What is beta-oxidation of fatty acids?

Beta-oxidation is the catabolic process that breaks down fatty acids to generate acetyl-CoA for energy production. It occurs in the mitochondrial matrix (and peroxisomes for very long-chain fatty acids). The process involves repeated cycles of four reactions: oxidation (FAD-dependent), hydration, oxidation (NAD+-dependent), and thiolysis. Each cycle removes a two-carbon acetyl-CoA unit and shortens the fatty acid by two carbons. For a 16-carbon palmitic acid, 7 cycles produce 8 acetyl-CoA, 7 FADH2, and 7 NADH, yielding approximately 106 ATP after complete oxidation through the TCA cycle.