Metabolism Series

Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. Metabolic pathways are enzyme-mediated biochemical reactions that lead to biosynthesis (anabolism) or breakdown (catabolism) of natural product molecules within a cell or tissue. The main metabolism in the body includes glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and protein metabolism. Imbalances in metabolic activities have been found to be critical in a number of pathologies, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome.
Metabolites are the products and intermediates of cellular metabolism which are usually small molecules. In the process of new drug discovery, metabolites have become an important source of lead compounds because of their safety and the diversity of biological activities. Microbial metabolites play important roles in the development of antibiotic products and non-antibiotic active compounds because of their species diversity and structural novelty.