Metabolic pathway

A metabolic pathway is a sequence of enzyme-catalyzed reactions that converts starting compounds into products in a cell. Its steps connect through shared intermediates and are regulated to meet cellular needs.

Enzyme: A biological catalyst that speeds chemical reactions without being consumed. Each step is catalyzed by an enzyme that helps determine the pathway’s rate and specificity.
Biochemical reaction: A chemical transformation occurring in a living organism or biological system. A pathway is built from biochemical reactions linked by shared compounds.
Metabolic engineering: The redesign of cellular metabolism to improve production of desired compounds or functions. Engineers alter pathway enzymes and connections to increase yields of useful products.
Linear metabolic pathway: A metabolic route in which reactions proceed through a sequence with no major branch points. It is the simplest pathway architecture, with a direct progression from starting compound to product.
Substrate: A molecule on which an enzyme acts during a chemical reaction. Pathway substrates are transformed by one enzyme and often become the next step’s intermediates.
Metabolite: A small molecule produced, used, or transformed by cellular metabolism. Metabolites serve as substrates, intermediates, and products within pathways.
Flux balance analysis: A computational method that estimates metabolic reaction rates using network stoichiometry and constraints. It predicts feasible pathway fluxes when direct measurements are limited.
Branched metabolic pathway: A metabolic route in which shared intermediates lead to multiple products or receive inputs from multiple routes. Branch points let cells allocate intermediates among competing products.
Metabolic intermediate: A molecule formed and consumed during a sequence of metabolic reactions. Intermediates connect successive reactions and can branch into other pathways.
Reaction stoichiometry: The quantitative relationships between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. Stoichiometry tracks how much of each compound a pathway consumes and produces.

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