Ketone Body Synthesis and Utilisation

The ketone bodies that could supply energy in different tissues are acetone, acetoacetate, and ß-hydroxybutyrate.

The synthesis of ketone bodies goes through the initial mevalonate pathway until HGM-CoA is produced (Figure 1).

Ketone body synthesis

Ketone body synthesis takes place in the mitochondrial matrix and starts with the condensation of two acetyl CoA molecules to form acetoacetyl CoA.

Figure 1. Synthesis of ketone bodies

The enzymes involved:

HMG-CoA synthase catalyzes the condensation of acetoacetyl CoA with another molecule of acetyl CoA to form β hydroxy-β-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA)

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