BMSC 230 FINAL CERTIFICATION TEST
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
>> Define B-oxidation. Where does this take place?
Answer: The process where fatty acids are broken down in the matrix to
acetylCoA, NADH, and FADH2. The length of the fatty acid determines the
amount produced. Note the last round produces 2 acetylCoA
>> What are the three stages to fatty acid degradation? Give locations
2. Transport: FAs are activated into acylCoA in the cytosol and transported into
the matrix
3. Oxidation: B-oxidation occurs in the matrix
Answer: 1. Mobilization: TAGs are broken down in the adipose tissue and
released into the blood as FAs and glycerol
>> Describe how FAs are systematically named and how greek letters are
involved
* = first carbon from the carboxy terminus involved in the double bond
ω = omega is the non-carboxy terminus
α = carbon 2
β = carbon 3
Answer: number of carbons:number of double bonds (∆) cis/trans--octadec
EN or AN oate
>> What is the systematic name of palmitate?
Answer: n-hexadecanoate
>> What is the systematic name of stearate?
Answer: n-Octadecanoate
,>> What is the systematic name of palmitoleate?
Answer: cis-∆9-hexadecenoate
>> What is the systematic name of oleate?
Answer: cis-∆9-Octadecenoate
>> What is the systematic name of linoleate?
Answer: cis, cis-∆9,∆12-Octadecadienoate
>> What is the systematic name of linolenate?
Answer: all-cis-∆9,∆12,∆15-Octadecatrienoate
>> Why are FAs stored as TAGs? Where?
Answer: Stored in adipose tissue. They are in TAGs, because FAs on their
own are toxic in high enough levels.
>> What are adipokines? Where do they come from?
Answer: Small biomolecules secreted by adipose tissue that control overall
body metabolism and appetite
>> What is visceral adipose tissue. Why is it of concern?
Seen in obese people and a risk factor for heart issues and diabetes
Answer: fat that lies beneath the abdominal muscle and surrounds the
internal organs such as the heart, liver, intestines, etc.
>> How are FAs attached to glycerol?
Answer: Through an ester bond
>> Describe in detail how FAs get released into the blood during a fasting or
exercise state?
PKA turns on perilipin and hormone-sensitive (HS) lipase (phosphorylates)
, Perilipin turns on adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL).
ATGL hydrolyzes TAG into DAG + FA
HS lipase hydrolyzes DAG into MAG + FA
MAG lipase hydrolyzes MAG into an FA + glycerol
FAs and glycerol then enter the blood
Answer: Either glucagon or epinephrine attach to receptors on the cell
surface of adipose cells. This activates adenylate cyclase which makes
cAMP, which turns on PKA.
>> How do glycerol and FAs travel in the blood? Where do they come from and
where do they go?
FAs and glycerol mostly come from adipose tissue. FAs are delivered all over the
body to be used as fuel. Glycerol goes to the liver.
Answer: Glycerol dissolves into the plasma. FAs are hydrophobic so have to
hitch a ride with albumin (plasma protein).
>> What happens to glycerol from TAG mobilization? Draw it
Answer: It is taken up by the liver and turned into DHAP and G3P to enter
glycolysis or more likely gluconeogenesis (because the body is in starvation
mode and doesn't have glucose. Glucagon is active).
>> Describe in detail how FAs enter the matrix from the blood. What is this
called?
They are then activated by acyl-CoA synthetase at the OMM into acylCoa (this
uses ATP turning it into AMP)
Then the acyl is transferred to carnitine via carnitine acyltransferase I (CAT I).
This forms acyl carnitine
Acyl carnitine enters the matrix via a translocase when CAT II reforms acylCoA
and carnitine (which moves back to the cytoplasm)
This is called the carnitine shuttle
Answer: First they cross the cell membrane through special transporters.
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
>> Define B-oxidation. Where does this take place?
Answer: The process where fatty acids are broken down in the matrix to
acetylCoA, NADH, and FADH2. The length of the fatty acid determines the
amount produced. Note the last round produces 2 acetylCoA
>> What are the three stages to fatty acid degradation? Give locations
2. Transport: FAs are activated into acylCoA in the cytosol and transported into
the matrix
3. Oxidation: B-oxidation occurs in the matrix
Answer: 1. Mobilization: TAGs are broken down in the adipose tissue and
released into the blood as FAs and glycerol
>> Describe how FAs are systematically named and how greek letters are
involved
* = first carbon from the carboxy terminus involved in the double bond
ω = omega is the non-carboxy terminus
α = carbon 2
β = carbon 3
Answer: number of carbons:number of double bonds (∆) cis/trans--octadec
EN or AN oate
>> What is the systematic name of palmitate?
Answer: n-hexadecanoate
>> What is the systematic name of stearate?
Answer: n-Octadecanoate
,>> What is the systematic name of palmitoleate?
Answer: cis-∆9-hexadecenoate
>> What is the systematic name of oleate?
Answer: cis-∆9-Octadecenoate
>> What is the systematic name of linoleate?
Answer: cis, cis-∆9,∆12-Octadecadienoate
>> What is the systematic name of linolenate?
Answer: all-cis-∆9,∆12,∆15-Octadecatrienoate
>> Why are FAs stored as TAGs? Where?
Answer: Stored in adipose tissue. They are in TAGs, because FAs on their
own are toxic in high enough levels.
>> What are adipokines? Where do they come from?
Answer: Small biomolecules secreted by adipose tissue that control overall
body metabolism and appetite
>> What is visceral adipose tissue. Why is it of concern?
Seen in obese people and a risk factor for heart issues and diabetes
Answer: fat that lies beneath the abdominal muscle and surrounds the
internal organs such as the heart, liver, intestines, etc.
>> How are FAs attached to glycerol?
Answer: Through an ester bond
>> Describe in detail how FAs get released into the blood during a fasting or
exercise state?
PKA turns on perilipin and hormone-sensitive (HS) lipase (phosphorylates)
, Perilipin turns on adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL).
ATGL hydrolyzes TAG into DAG + FA
HS lipase hydrolyzes DAG into MAG + FA
MAG lipase hydrolyzes MAG into an FA + glycerol
FAs and glycerol then enter the blood
Answer: Either glucagon or epinephrine attach to receptors on the cell
surface of adipose cells. This activates adenylate cyclase which makes
cAMP, which turns on PKA.
>> How do glycerol and FAs travel in the blood? Where do they come from and
where do they go?
FAs and glycerol mostly come from adipose tissue. FAs are delivered all over the
body to be used as fuel. Glycerol goes to the liver.
Answer: Glycerol dissolves into the plasma. FAs are hydrophobic so have to
hitch a ride with albumin (plasma protein).
>> What happens to glycerol from TAG mobilization? Draw it
Answer: It is taken up by the liver and turned into DHAP and G3P to enter
glycolysis or more likely gluconeogenesis (because the body is in starvation
mode and doesn't have glucose. Glucagon is active).
>> Describe in detail how FAs enter the matrix from the blood. What is this
called?
They are then activated by acyl-CoA synthetase at the OMM into acylCoa (this
uses ATP turning it into AMP)
Then the acyl is transferred to carnitine via carnitine acyltransferase I (CAT I).
This forms acyl carnitine
Acyl carnitine enters the matrix via a translocase when CAT II reforms acylCoA
and carnitine (which moves back to the cytoplasm)
This is called the carnitine shuttle
Answer: First they cross the cell membrane through special transporters.
