Abstract:
Metabolic networks are interconnected pathways of biochemical reactions within living cells through which building blocks or compounds necessary for cellular functioning are assembled (anabolism) or energy and matter are produced by breaking down biomolecules (catabolism). These pathways are often organized as cycles or chains of coupled reactions, in which the product of one reaction serves as the substrate of the succeeding reaction. Although all reactions are reversible in principle, thermodynamic gradients within metabolic reactions often promote one direction, yielding a flux through the metabolic pathways. In many cases distinct pathways or reactions exist for contrary flows of matter. All processes within a metabolic network are temporally and spatially organized. Often cells contain several compartments which separate parts of its reaction network into subnetworks. The reacting compounds are called metabolites or species. Additionally, modifiers can activate, inhibit or catalyze a reaction. Enzymes play a central role in metabolic networks, because they act as catalysts in the vast majority of the reactions. The interplay of its components determines the dynamic behavior of the overall network.
10.1007/978-1-4419-9863-7_1277
Projects: A3.4: Linking signalling to metabolic functions, B5: Cell-cell communication influences detoxifying functions in hepatocytes
Encyclopedia of Systems Biology
Encyclopedia of Systems Biology : 1249
2013
Andreas Dräger, Hannes Planatscher
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- Created: 15th Aug 2013 at 23:34
- Last updated: 23rd Jul 2015 at 13:38
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