Which intermediate compound(s) in the citric acid cycle is/are often used for biosynthetic pathways as well as carbon catabolism?
A) only α-ketoglutarate
B) only oxaloacetate
C) only succinyl-CoA
D) α-ketoglutarate, oxaloacetate, and succinyl-CoA

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

α-ketoglutarate is used in the biosynthesis of amino acids, oxaloacetate is used in gluconeogenesis as well as amino acid biosynthesis, and succinyl-CoA is used in the biosynthesis of heme and chlorophyll. Therefore, all three intermediate compounds are used for both biosynthetic pathways and carbon catabolism, making choice D the best answer.

Which Intermediate Compound(s) in the Citric Acid Cycle Is/are Often