What is the Role of Carnitine in Fatty Acid Metabolism?

Carnitine is crucial for the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they undergo beta-oxidation to produce energy. This process is facilitated by the carnitine shuttle, which includes three main enzymes: carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1), carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT2). Deficiencies in any of these enzymes can lead to metabolic disorders.