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Pentose Phosphate Pathway definitions

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  • Pentose Phosphate Pathway
    A metabolic web generating NADPH and various sugars from glucose 6 phosphate, crucial for biosynthesis and cellular defense.
  • NADPH
    A reducing agent with a phosphate group, vital for biosynthetic reactions and protection against oxidative stress.
  • Glucose 6 Phosphate
    A phosphorylated glucose molecule serving as the entry point for both glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway.
  • Ribulose 5 Phosphate
    A five-carbon sugar produced in the pathway, precursor for ribose 5 phosphate and xylulose 5 phosphate.
  • Ribose 5 Phosphate
    A five-carbon sugar essential for nucleotide and histidine synthesis, formed from ribulose 5 phosphate.
  • Xylulose 5 Phosphate
    A five-carbon sugar generated from ribulose 5 phosphate, participates in carbon transfer reactions.
  • Transketolase
    An enzyme transferring two-carbon units between sugars, using thiamine pyrophosphate as a cofactor.
  • Transaldolase
    An enzyme facilitating three-carbon unit transfers, enabling the formation of diverse sugars in the pathway.
  • Erythrose 4 Phosphate
    A four-carbon sugar produced in the pathway, important for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis.
  • Fructose 6 Phosphate
    A six-carbon sugar formed in the pathway, can enter glycolysis or other metabolic routes.
  • Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase
    A key enzyme catalyzing the first step, generating NADPH and 6-phosphogluconolactone from glucose 6 phosphate.
  • 6-Phosphogluconolactone
    An intermediate formed from glucose 6 phosphate, subsequently converted to 6-phosphogluconate.
  • 6-Phosphogluconate
    A pathway intermediate produced from 6-phosphogluconolactone, precursor to ribulose 5 phosphate.
  • Superoxide Radical
    A reactive oxygen species neutralized by NADPH-dependent enzymes to prevent cellular damage.
  • Glutathione Reductase
    An enzyme using NADPH to regenerate active glutathione, crucial for detoxifying hydrogen peroxide.