When the acetyl-CoA produced during β-oxidation in the liver exceeds the capacity of the citric acid cycle, the excess acetyl-CoA forms ketone bodies—acetone, acetoacetate, and D-b-hydroxybutyrate. This occurs in severe, uncontrolled diabetes: because the tissues cannot use glucose, they oxidize large amounts of fatty acids instead. Although acetyl-CoA is not toxic, the mitochondrion must divert the acetyl-CoA to ketone bodies. What problem would arise if acetyl-CoA were not converted to ketone bodies? How does the diversion to ketone bodies solve the problem?

Biochemistry
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ISBN:9781319114671
Author:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.
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Chapter1: Biochemistry: An Evolving Science
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When the acetyl-CoA produced during β-oxidation in the liver exceeds the capacity of the citric acid cycle, the excess acetyl-CoA forms ketone bodies—acetone, acetoacetate, and D-b-hydroxybutyrate. This occurs in severe, uncontrolled diabetes: because the tissues cannot use glucose, they oxidize large amounts of fatty acids instead. Although acetyl-CoA is not toxic, the mitochondrion must divert the acetyl-CoA to ketone bodies. What problem would arise if acetyl-CoA were not converted to ketone bodies? How does the diversion to ketone bodies solve the problem?

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