Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Metabolite
Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism (see metabolism for details). The term metabolite is usually restricted to small molecules. A primary metabolite is essential for normal growth, development, and reproduction. A secondary metabolite is not essential for normal growth, development and reproduction, but usually has important ecological function. Examples include antibiotics and pigments.
The metabolome forms a large network of metabolic reactions, where outputs from one enzymatic chemical reaction are inputs to other chemical reactions. Such systems have been described as hypercycles.
See also
- Metabolism (main article).
- Metabolic control analysis , a specific kind of control analysis .
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details