# Fatty Acid Breakdown (Carnitine Shuttle)

**Fatty Acid Breakdown** is a biochemical pathway involving the **Carnitine Shuttle,** used to metabolize fatty acids into molecules that can be harnessed for energy. This process usually occurs in the **liver**.

The pathway begins with **fatty acids** and **coenzyme A (CoA)**, which are combined to form **acyl-CoA**. This Acyl-CoA is then shuttled via **carnitine** into the **mitochondrial matrix**, a process that can be inhibited by high levels of **malonyl-CoA**.

Inside the mitochondrial matrix, **acyl-CoA dehydrogenase** performs **beta-oxidation**, converting acyl-CoA into **acetyl-CoA**. Acetyl-CoA is a versatile molecule used to produce **ketone bodies** for export, or **ATP** via the Kreb’s Cycle for intracellular use.

Find Fatty Acid Breakdown and more [Biochemical Pathways](/content/browse#playlist-4028/index.html) among Pixorize's visual mnemonics for the USMLE Step 1 and NBME Shelf Exams.