Question

Discuss the respiratory pathway is an amphibolic pathway.

Answer 1

In this question we are going to find why the respiratory pathway is an amphibolic pathway. Both catabolic and anabolic processes amphibolic pathway is the one that involves .Respiration involves both catabolism and anabolism. Acetyl coenzyme A is withdrawn from the respiratory pathway during fatty acid synthesis. Respiratory substrates get withdrawn during protein synthesis also.

Complete answer:
Respiration is the breakdown of the complex compounds into simple ones to produce energy molecules, ATP. Hence the pathway is termed as a catabolic pathway and the process is called catabolic process. Actually, respiration is the result of both making and breaking. Proteins or fatty acids are broken down to form acetyl-CoA when energy is required and further processes of respiration occur. This is catabolism. When the body requires fatty acids or proteins, the respiratory pathway stops and the same acetyl-CoA is utilized and fatty acids are manufactured. This process of synthesis is termed as anabolism. So from this we can say that the sum process of catabolism and anabolism is called respiration. Products of glycolysis and the Krebs cycle act as a precursor for the synthesis of proteins, fats etc. so the respiratory pathway is known as an amphibolic pathway.

Note: Respiration can be termed as the amphibolic pathway because it involves both anabolism and catabolism. In the synthesis of proteins, respiratory substrates get withdrawn. Thus, respiration is also involved in anabolism.