β -oxidation is the main process of fatty acid degradation in plants. The glycerol and fatty acids are oriented such that the hydroxyl and acid groups are close to each other. Pin Page This mechanism is well established for saturated fatty acids while obscure for unsaturated fatty. . BMS 300 exam 1. In the body lipid molecules can be broken down to make smaller molecules of fatty acids. Glycerol and Fatty Acids. Adipose tissue lipolysis is the catabolic process leading to the breakdown of triglycerides stored in fat cells and the release of fatty acids and glycerol. Studies have been conducted on the uptake and metabolism of unesterified fatty acid free glycerol and 1-hexadecyl glyceryl ether by rat cardiac myocytes and of fatty acid intact. One major class of lipids is called glycerolipids. To determine the relationship between glycerol and nonesterified fatty acid NEFA release from adipose tissue and to ...