Question

Discuss “The respiratory pathway is an amphibolic pathway.”

Answer 1

Part 1: Introduction
Respiration is a multistep process where breakdown (catabolism) as well as formation (anabolism) of new substances takes place. The process begins with glycolysis and ends with oxidative phosphorylation. This entire pathway that occurs during respiration is called respiratory pathway.

Part 2: Amphibolic Pathways
Biochemical pathway in which both anabolism and catabolism occur is called an amphibolic pathway.

Part 3: Respiratory pathway is an amphibolic pathway
For instance during glycolysis breakdown or catabolism of glucose occurs. During fatty acid formation (anabolism) acetyl CoA is withdrawn from the respiratory pathway. Thus in the respiratory pathway both anabolism and catabolism occur. Therefore, it is an amphibolic pathway.