Inbiochemistry,ametaboliteis an intermediate or end product ofmetabolism.[1] The term is usually used forsmall molecules.Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects onenzymes,catalytic activity of their own (usually as acofactorto an enzyme), defense, and interactions with other organisms (e.g.pigments,odorants,andpheromones).
Aprimary metaboliteis directly involved in normal "growth", development, and reproduction.Ethyleneexemplifies a primary metabolite produced large-scale byindustrial microbiology.
Asecondary metaboliteis not directly involved in those processes, but usually has an importantecologicalfunction. Examples includeantibioticsandpigmentssuch as resins and terpenes etc.
Some antibiotics use primary metabolites as precursors, such asactinomycin,which is created from the primary metabolitetryptophan.Somesugarsare metabolites, such asfructoseorglucose,which are both present in themetabolic pathways.
Examples of primary metabolites produced by industrial microbiology include:[2]
| Class | Example |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | Ethanol |
| Amino acids | Glutamic acid,aspartic acid |
| Nucleotides | 5' guanylic acid |
| Antioxidants | Isoascorbic acid |
| Organic acids | Acetic acid,lactic acid |
| Polyols | Glycerol |
| Vitamins | B2 |
Themetabolomeforms a large network of metabolic reactions, where outputs from one enzymaticchemical reactionare inputs to other chemical reactions.
Metabolites fromchemical compounds,whether inherent orpharmaceutical,form as part of the natural biochemical process of degrading and eliminating the compounds.[3] The rate of degradation of a compound is an important determinant of the duration and intensity of its action. Understanding how pharmaceutical compounds aremetabolizedand the potentialside effectsof their metabolites is an important part ofdrug discovery.[4]
See also
edit- Antimetabolite
- Intermediary metabolism,also called intermediate metabolism
- Metabolic control analysis
- Metabolomics,the study of global metabolite profiles in a system (cell, tissue, or organism) under a given set of conditions
- Metabolic pathway
- Volatile organic compound
References
edit- ^
Venes, Donald, ed. (1940).Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary(23 ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis (published 2017). p. 1510.ISBN9780803659407.Retrieved16 March2020.
metabolite [...] Any product of metabolism.
- ^Demain, Arnold L. (December 1980). "Microbial production of primary metabolites".Naturwissenschaften.67(12): 582–587.Bibcode:1980NW.....67..582D.doi:10.1007/BF00396537.PMID7231563.S2CID21590956.
- ^ Harris, Edward D."Biochemical Facts behind the Definition and Properties of Metabolites"(PDF).FDA.gov.United States Food and Drug Administration.Retrieved28 April2017.
- ^Obach, R. Scott; Esbenshade, Timothy A. (April 2013). "Pharmacologically Active Drug Metabolites: Impact on Drug Discovery and Pharmacotherapy".Pharmacological Reviews.65(2): 578–640.doi:10.1124/pr.111.005439.PMID23406671.S2CID720243.
External links
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