Metabolic network
Metabolic Network
A Metabolic Network (pronunciation: meh-tuh-bol-ik net-wurk) is a complete set of metabolic and physical processes that occur within a living organism. It is a complex system of interactions among various biochemical reactions and pathways, which are responsible for the synthesis, breakdown, and transformation of molecules inside the cell.
Etymology
The term "Metabolic" is derived from the Greek word "Metabole" which means change, and "Network" comes from the Old English "Netwerc" which means a netlike arrangement or structure.
Definition
A Metabolic Network is a comprehensive representation of the metabolic reactions and pathways in an organism. It includes all the enzymes, metabolites, and biochemical reactions that occur in a cell. The network provides a systematic view of how these components interact with each other to maintain the metabolic functions of the cell.
Components of a Metabolic Network
- Enzymes: These are proteins that catalyze or speed up the biochemical reactions in the cell. They play a crucial role in the metabolic network by facilitating the transformation of molecules.
- Metabolites: These are small molecules that are the substrates, intermediates, or products of the metabolic reactions. They are the building blocks of the metabolic network.
- Biochemical Reactions: These are the chemical reactions that occur in the cell, involving the transformation of metabolites. They are the links that connect the different components of the metabolic network.
Related Terms
- Metabolism: The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. It is closely related to the metabolic network as it encompasses all the biochemical reactions that occur in the cell.
- Metabolic Pathway: A series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell, which are part of the metabolic network.
- Systems Biology: An interdisciplinary field that focuses on the systematic study of complex interactions in biological systems, such as metabolic networks.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Metabolic network
- Wikipedia's article - Metabolic network
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