The Weimberg pathway is an oxidative pathway where the D-xylose is oxidized to D-xylono-lactone by a D-xylose dehydrogenase followed by a lactonase to hydrolyze the lactone to D-xylonic acid. A xylonate dehydratase is splitting off a water molecule resulting in 2-keto 3-deoxy-xylonate. 2-keto-3-deox-D-xylonate dehydratase forms the α-ketoglutarate semialdehyde. This is subsequently oxidised via α-ketoglutarate semialdehyde dehydrogenase to yield 2-ketoglutarate which serves as a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle.