GLUTARYL-COA is a common intermediate in the degradation of many different compounds, such as benzoate and benzoyl-CoA, L-lysine, L-tryptophan and many more. In this pathway glutaryl-CoA is degraded by β-oxidation to 2 molecules of acetyl-CoA and one molecule of CO
2. This pathway can operate under both anaerobic (
8436125) and aerobic conditions (
11705404), although the enzymes catalyzing it may be specialized for either aerobic or anaerobic operation.