NEW LOWER PRICES - ACT FAST
Medicine (MD/DO)
/
Courses
/
Biochemistry
/
Metabolic Pathways
/
Lipolysis

Master Lipolysis with Picmonic for Medicine

With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.

DOWNLOAD PDF
Lipolysis

Recommended Picmonics

picmonic thumbnail
Glycolysis
picmonic thumbnail
Gluconeogenesis
picmonic thumbnail
Fructose Metabolism
picmonic thumbnail
Ethanol Metabolism
picmonic thumbnail
Lipid Metabolism and Ketogenesis

Lipolysis

Lip-laser
Picmonic
The body preferentially uses up its fat stores during fasts and in low-energy states. Triglycerides, stored in adipose tissue, are converted into NADH, FADH2, and acetyl-CoA molecules. This process begins when hormone sensitive lipase breaks down triglycerides, releasing glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol can be directly used in glycolysis, but the fatty acids require transport and further processing via beta-oxidation. Beta-oxidation occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is impermeable to long-chain fatty acids. These molecules must be transported across the membrane via the carnitine shuttle. However medium-chain and short-chain fatty acids can diffuse freely. Once inside the inner mitochondrial membrane, beta oxidation can begin. This process breaks down fatty acids, two carbons at a time, with each round releasing acetyl-CoA. Odd chain fatty acids require additional steps, as their final product is propionyl-CoA. This molecule is acted upon by propionyl-CoA carboxylase, which requires biotin as a cofactor, to produce methylmalonyl-CoA. Methylmalonyl-CoA is then acted upon by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, which requires vitamin B12 as a cofactor, to finally form succinyl-CoA. This final molecule of succinyl-CoA can then enter the Krebs cycle directly.
16 KEY FACTS
TRIGLYCERIDE BREAKDOWN
Triglycerides
TAG-triceratops

The process of transforming stored fat into energy begins with triglycerides. These molecules are largely stored within adipose tissue and are used preferentially in fasting or low-energy states.

Hormone Sensitive Lipase
Harmonica on Lips-ace

The enzyme hormone-sensitive lipase begins this process by hydrolyzing triglycerides. Hormone-sensitive lipase frees the fatty acids from their glycerol backbone. This enzyme is activated by catecholamines and inhibited by insulin.

Glycerol
Glitter-roll

Glycerol is one of the two main products of triglyceride breakdown. This molecule is easily utilized by the body. It can be phosphorylated into glycerol-3-phosphate or formed into dihydroxyacetone. Both of these molecules may enter glycolysis after being converted into dihydroxyacetone phosphate.

Fatty Acids
Bacon Acid-lemon

Fatty acids are the other main product of triglyceride breakdown. Following their release, they can be transported to the mitochondria for beta-oxidation.

FATTY ACID TRANSPORT
Long-chain Fatty Acids
Long-chain Bacon Acid-lemon

Long-chain fatty acids are not capable of entering the mitochondria on their own. These molecules require specialized transport in order to cross the lipid bilayer of the organelle.

Carnitine Shuttle
Car-teen Shuttle

Long-chain fatty acids are transported into the mitochondria via the carnitine shuttle. This process begins with the transformation of the long-chain fatty acid into acyl-CoA via the enzyme fatty acyl-CoA synthetase. Acyl-CoA and carnitine are then combined to form acylcarnitine via the enzyme carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1, CAT-1). This is the rate-limiting step in fatty acid oxidation. The newly formed acylcarnitine molecule can diffuse freely into the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it is broken down by CPT-2 into acyl-CoA and carnitine.

Medium-chain and Short-chain Fatty Acids Diffuse Freely
Medium/Short-chain Bacon Acidic-lemon D-fusing Freely

Medium and short-chain fatty acids are capable of diffusing freely into the inner mitochondrial membrane and do not require carrier molecules. Once inside the mitochondria, they are immediately converted into acyl-CoA molecules.

FATTY ACID BREAKDOWN
Beta Oxidation
Beta-fish Ox

Beta-oxidation is a biochemical process that occurs within the mitochondria of cells responsible for turning long acyl-CoA molecules into two-carbon acetyl-CoA molecules. These are then capable of entering the Krebs cycle, subsequently providing substrates for cellular respiration and providing energy in the form of ATP.

Acetyl-CoA if Even Number of Carbon Atoms
Seagull-Coin-A-purse with Even Number of Car-bombs

Fatty acids with an even number of carbons are cleaved, two carbons at a time, into acetyl-CoA molecules, NADH, and FADH2.

Propionyl-CoA if Odd Number of Carbon Atoms
Purple-eel Coin-A-purse with Odd Number of Car-bombs

If a fatty acid has an odd number of carbons, the end result of beta-oxidation is propionyl-CoA, a three-carbon molecule. This molecule can be converted into succinyl-CoA for use in the Krebs cycle.

Propionyl-CoA Carboxylase
Purple-eel Coin-A-purse Cardboard-lace

The process of converting propionyl-CoA into succinyl-CoA begins with the formation of methylmalonyl-CoA from propionyl-CoA via the enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase.

Biotin Cofactor
Bionic-tin-man Crow-flagger

The formation of methylmalonyl-CoA from propionyl-CoA requires biotin as a cofactor.

Methylmalonyl-CoA
Methyl-melon Coin-A-purse

Methylmalonyl-CoA is produced from propionyl-CoA through carboxylation. It can be converted into succinyl-CoA via the enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. This molecule can also serve as a marker of sorts for patients with suspected vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency. Since these patients cannot convert methylmalonyl-CoA into succinyl-CoA, they will have elevated levels of methylmalonyl-CoA.

Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase
Methyl-melon Coin-A-purse Mutant-ace

The enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase is responsible for the conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA into succinyl-CoA. This enzyme represents the final step of the beta-oxidation of odd-chain fatty acids, as the succinyl-CoA resulting from this step can enter the Krebs cycle directly.

Vitamin B12 Cofactor
(12) Dozen Viking (B) Bees and Crow-flagger

The enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase requires vitamin B12 (cobalamin) as a cofactor. As such, the observation that this biochemical pathway is not progressing as it should (evidenced by increased levels of methylmalonyl-CoA) can be helpful in diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency. It is especially useful for differentiating B12 deficiency from other causes of megaloblastic anemia, such as vitamin B9 (folate) deficiency.

Succinyl-CoA
Suckers Coin-A-purse

Succinyl-CoA is the end product of odd-chain fatty acid oxidation. It is formed via the enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and is capable of directly entering the Krebs cycle.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Take the Lipolysis Quiz

Picmonic's rapid review multiple-choice quiz allows you to assess your knowledge.

It's worth every penny

Our Story Mnemonics Increase Mastery and Retention

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Ace Your Medicine (MD/DO) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:

Over 1,870,000 students use Picmonic’s picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.

Choose the #1 Medicine (MD/DO) student study app.

Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether you’re studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, we’re here to help.

Works better than traditional Medicine (MD/DO) flashcards.

Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.