Biological Significance: Metabolism
Enoyl-CoA hydratase catalyzes the second step in the breakdown of fatty acids or the second step of β-oxidation in fatty acid metabolism shown below. Fatty acid metabolism is how our bodies turn fats or lipids into energy. When fats come into our bodies they are generally in the form of triacyl-glycerols. These must be broken down in order for the fats to pass into our bodies. When these are broken down, three fatty acids are released; these can then pass into our bodies. In fatty acid metabolism, fatty acids are changed into fatty-acyl CoA. To do this, the carboxylate which occupies one end of the fatty acid is changed into a thioester by substituting Co-enzyme A for the hydroxyl group. Next the fatty acyl-CoA is oxidized and broken down into an acetyl CoA molecule and another acyl-CoA. The acetyl CoA is then sent to the citric acid cycle while the remaining acyl-CoA is brokendown further into acetyl-CoAs. The complete breakdown of a fatty acid not only generates these acetyl-CoA molecules, but it also generates a great deal of energy in the form of NADH. This NADH goes on to be converted into ATPs which can be used to in other reactions.
Fatty Acid Catabolism or Beta-Oxidation:
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