Medical Definition of Beta-oxidation
1.
The oxidative breakdown of fatty acids into acetyl-coenzyme A by repeated oxidation at the beta-carbon atom.
Oxidation of the beta-carbon (carbon 3) of a fatty acid causes the formation of the beta-keto (beta-oxo) acid analog. This is of importance in fatty acid catabolism, the entire pathway for the catabolism of saturated fatty acids containing an even number of carbon atoms. Beta-oxidation is a part of this pathway and acetyl-CoA is a major product of this pathway.
(05 Mar 2000)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Beta-oxidation
Other Resources:
