Secondary metabolites

Metabolism has two distinct divisions:
• Anabolism in which a cell uses energy and reducing power to construct complex molecules and perform other life functions such as creating cellular structure.
• Catabolism in which a cell breaks down complex molecules to yield energy and reducing power.
Cell metabolism involves extremely complex sequences of controlled chemical reactions called metabolic pathways.
• Metabolic Pathway: In biochemistry, is a series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell, catalyzed by enzymes, resulting in either the formation of a metabolic product to be used or stored by the cell, or the initiation of another metabolic pathway .
• Major Metabolic Pathways:
• Cellular respiration: Glycolysis Anaerobic respiration, Kreb’s cycle / Citric acid cycle, and Oxidative phosphorylation.
• Creation of energetic compounds from non-living matter: Photosynthesis (plants, algae, cyanobacteria) and Chemosynthesis (some bacteria).
• Other pathways occurring in (most or) all living organisms include: Fatty acid oxidation (?-oxidation), Gluconeogenesis, HMG-CoA reductase pathway, Pentose phosphate pathway, Porphyrin synthesis (or heme synthesis) pathway, and Urea cycle.

• Metabolites: Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism.

This naturally occurring compounds may be divided into three broad categories: