What are Metabolic Pathways?

What are Metabolic Pathways?

Introduction

• Metabolic pathways are essential processes that occur within cells to produce substances necessary for proper cell functioning.

Understanding Metabolic Pathways

• Metabolic pathways are a series of chemical reactions that start with a substrate and lead to the formation of an end product.
• These pathways are enzyme-catalyzed, which means they rely on specific enzymes to facilitate the reactions.

Examples in Plants

• In plants, metabolic pathways produce vital compounds like glucose and chlorophyll, which are crucial for photosynthesis and energy production.

Examples in Animals

• Animals also rely on metabolic pathways to generate essential substances, such as vitamins and haemoglobin, necessary for various physiological processes.

Complexity of Metabolic Pathways

• Thousands of metabolic pathways exist, and most involve multiple steps, some even consisting of hundreds of reactions.
• These pathways collectively form a complex network that is essential for sustaining life.

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What are Metabolic Pathways?

Summary

• Metabolic pathways are a series of enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions that convert substrates into end products.
• They are fundamental processes in cells, responsible for producing vital compounds required for cellular functions.
• Metabolic pathways are intricate and interconnected, forming a complex network crucial for the maintenance of life.