Degradative

Fungi, such as Coccidioides immitis, also possess degradative chitinases related to their role as detritivores and also to their potential as arthropod pathogens.

The degradative process of a catabolic pathway provides the energy required to conduct a biosynthesis of an anabolic pathway.

The low pH of the vacuole also allows degradative enzymes to act. Although single large vacuoles are most common, the size and number of vacuoles may vary in different tissues and stages of development.

This can be accomplished by blocking re-uptake or inhibiting degradative enzymes.