What is the process in which fats are metabolized in the mitochondria for energy?

The correct process in which fats are metabolized in the mitochondria for energy is referred to as beta oxidation. This process specifically involves the breakdown of fatty acids into acetyl-CoA molecules, which can then enter the citric acid cycle to be further metabolized for energy production.

During beta oxidation, long-chain fatty acids are transported into the mitochondria, where they undergo several enzymatic reactions. Each cycle of beta oxidation shortens the fatty acid by two carbon units, producing acetyl-CoA, NADH, and FADH2 in the process. The generated acetyl-CoA can subsequently feed into the citric acid cycle, leading to the production of ATP, the energy currency of the cell.

This process is crucial for energy metabolism, especially during periods of fasting, prolonged exercise, or low carbohydrate intake, when the body relies on fat stores for fuel.

In contrast, glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose to pyruvate, primarily occurring in the cytoplasm and not involving fatty acids. The citric acid cycle is the pathway that processes acetyl-CoA to generate energy, done after beta oxidation has yielded acetyl-CoA. Fermentation, on the other hand, occurs in the absence of oxygen and is primarily