Primary Metabolites


DEFINITION: Primary metabolites are essential compounds that are involved in the basic growth, development, and reproduction of all organisms. They are directly involved in maintaining the physiological functions of the organism. 

Examples of primary metabolites include:
  • Carbohydrates: glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch, cellulose
  • Lipids: fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids
  • Proteins: amino acids, enzymes, hormones
  • Nucleic acids: DNA, RNA
  • Vitamins and minerals

Secondary Metabolites 


DEFINITION: Secondary metabolites are compounds that are not essential for the basic growth, development, and reproduction of organisms, but they may play important ecological roles. They are produced by a wide variety of organisms, including plants, fungi, bacteria, and insects. Secondary metabolites can have a wide range of biological activities, including: Defense, Communication between individuals, Attraction of pollinators, Allelopathy (the suppression of other plants) etc.

Examples of secondary metabolites include:
  • Alkaloids: morphine, caffeine, nicotine, quinine
  • Terpenoids: essential oils, menthol, rubber
  • Phenolics: flavonoids, tannins, lignin
  • Quinones: ubiquinone, coenzyme Q10
  • Anthraquinones: laxatives, dyes
  • Glycosides: cardiac glycosides, cyanogenic glycosides

AMINOACID SYNTHESIS PATHWAY 


Amino acid synthesis is the set of biochemical processes (metabolic pathways) by which the amino acids are produced. The substrates for these processes are various compounds in the organism's diet or growth media. Not all organisms are able to synthesize all amino acids.

  • Primary amino acid synthesis: This is the synthesis of amino acids from simple precursors, such as alpha-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, and oxaloacetate. Primary amino acid synthesis is common to all organisms.
  1. Pyruvate: Alanine, Leucine, Isoleucine.
  2. Alpha-ketoglutarate: Glutamate
  3. Oxaloacetate: Aspartate 
  4. Ribose-5-P: Histidine 
  5. Erythrose 4 P + PEP: Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Tryptophan 
  • Secondary amino acid synthesis: This is the synthesis of amino acids from other amino acids. Secondary amino acid synthesis is found in some, but not all, organisms.
  1. Glutamate: Glutamine, Arginine 
  2. Aspartate: Asparagine, Lysin 
  3. Histidine: Serine 




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