fig2

Figure 2. FA metabolism in myocardiocytes. Once inside cells, FA are esterified with Coenzyme A into acyl-CoA, which in turn can be esterified for storage as triacylglycerides, or transported to the external mitochondrial membrane, where it is carried by a carnitine-dependent system into the intermembrane space. In this process, the acyl group is condensed with carnitine and separated from CoA to form acyl-carnitine, via carnitine palmitoyl transferase I. Then, it binds to acyl-carnitine translocase, which transports it into the mitochondrial matrix, and is converted into acetyl CoA, which goes into the TCA cycle. This process also yields NADH and FADH2 and several reducing equivalents, which can be utilized in the respiratory chain to generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. FA: fatty acid; TCA: tricarboxylic acid