Question

Respiratory pathway is believed to be a catabolic pathway. However, nature of TCA cycle is amphibolic. Explain.

Answer 1

During the breakdown and synthesis of protein, respiratory intermediates form the link. Breaking down processes within the living organism is catabolism, and synthesis is anabolism. Because the respiratory pathway is involved in both anabolism and catabolism, it would hence be better to consider the respiratory pathway as an amphibolic pathway rather than as a catabolic one.