Knowra Secondary metabolite Secondary metabolite A compound produced by an organism that is not directly required for its growth, development, or reproduction. Such compounds often mediate ecological interactions, including defense and communication.
Antibiotic : A substance that kills bacteria or inhibits their growth; many antibiotics are microbial secondary metabolites. Penicillin and other antibiotics illustrate how microbial metabolites can suppress competitors and treat infections.
Biosynthetic gene cluster : A group of nearby genes that collectively encode enzymes and other functions for producing a specialized molecule. Many secondary metabolites are assembled by enzymes encoded together in microbial genomes.
Primary metabolite : A compound directly involved in growth, development, or reproduction, such as an amino acid or nucleotide. The distinction from primary metabolism defines the traditional meaning of secondary metabolite.
Chemical ecology : The study of how chemicals mediate interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environments. Secondary metabolites are central molecules in many chemically mediated ecological interactions.
Plant defense against herbivory : Plant traits that reduce damage from animals that eat plants, including chemical deterrents and toxins. Many plant secondary metabolites deter feeding or harm herbivores.
Polyketide synthase : An enzyme or enzyme system that builds polyketides by joining small acyl units. Polyketide synthases produce diverse metabolites, including antibiotics and toxins.
Primary metabolism : The interconnected biochemical pathways that sustain cellular growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Secondary metabolism draws on precursors and energy supplied by primary metabolism.
Plant–pollinator interaction : An ecological relationship in which pollinators transfer pollen while obtaining resources from flowers. Floral scents and pigments, often secondary metabolites, can attract or guide pollinators.
Allelopathy : An interaction in which an organism releases chemicals that affect the growth or behavior of another organism. Some metabolites released by plants inhibit neighboring plants or microbes.
Nonribosomal peptide synthetase : A modular enzyme system that assembles peptides without using the ribosome or messenger RNA templates. These synthetases make many peptide secondary metabolites, including some antibiotics.
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