Answer to Question #189598 in Organic Chemistry for kevin peries

Question

how are fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms and unsaturated fatty acids oxidize differently to even numbered, saturated fatty acid chains

Answer 1

Odd-chain fatty acids produce acetyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA. These fatty acids repeat the four steps of the β-oxidation spiral, producing acetyl-CoA until the last cleavage when the three remaining carbons are released as propionyl-CoA. Propionyl-CoA, but not acetyl-CoA, can be converted to glucose.