What is the product of step 1 of ß-oxidation?

In the first step of β-oxidation, the fatty acyl-CoA undergoes dehydrogenation, which is catalyzed by acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. This reaction involves the introduction of a double bond between the α and β carbon atoms of the fatty acyl-CoA, resulting in the formation of a trans-Δ2-enoyl-CoA intermediate.

The reason this product is specifically designated as trans-Δ2-enoyl-CoA is due to the stereochemistry and positional notation of the double bond. The 'trans' refers to the configuration of the double bond, where the hydrogen atoms attached to the carbons are on opposite sides, which is a characteristic feature of this intermediate. The 'Δ2' indicates that the double bond is located between the second and third carbon atoms in the fatty acid chain.

This first step is crucial as it prepares the fatty acids for subsequent steps in β-oxidation by generating a compound that can be further processed by hydration and oxidation, ultimately leading to the production of acetyl-CoA units and the generation of reducing equivalents (NADH and FADH2) that can enter the electron transport chain.

Thus, the formation of trans-Δ