What Kind of Reaction is the Formation of Oxaloacetate from Phosphoenolpyruvate

Question

What kind of reaction is the formation of oxaloacetate from phosphoenolpyruvate?
A) catabolic
B) anaplerotic
C) decarboxylation
D) dehydrogenation
E) co-factor induced

Accepted Answer

The formation of oxaloacetate from phosphoenolpyruvate is an anaplerotic reaction. Anaplerotic reactions replenish the intermediates in a metabolic pathway that have been used up due to other reactions. In this case, oxaloacetate is an important intermediate in the citric acid cycle and the formation of oxaloacetate from phosphoenolpyruvate helps to maintain the pool of oxaloacetate for use in the citric acid cycle.