metabolites

(noun)

Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism. The term metabolite is usually restricted to small molecules. Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, catalytic activity of their own (usually as a cofactor to an enzyme), defense, and interactions with other organisms (e.g. pigments, odorants, and pheromones).

Related Terms

Examples of metabolites in the following topics:

  • Primary and Secondary Metabolites

    • Metabolites can be categorized into both primary and secondary metabolites.
    • Primary metabolites are involved in growth, development, and reproduction of the organism.
    • The primary metabolite is typically a key component in maintaining normal physiological processes; thus, it is often referred to as a central metabolite.
    • Secondary metabolites are typically organic compounds produced through the modification of primary metabolite synthases.
    • Secondary metabolites do not play a role in growth, development, and reproduction like primary metabolites do, and are typically formed during the end or near the stationary phase of growth.

  • Polyketide Antibiotics

    • Polyketides are secondary metabolites produced from bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals.
    • Polyketides are secondary metabolites produced from bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals.
    • Unlike primary metabolites, the absence of secondary metabolites does not result in immediate death, but rather in long-term impairment of the organism's survivability, fecundity, or aesthetics, or perhaps in no significant change at all.
    • Secondary metabolites are often restricted to a narrow set of species within a phylogenetic group.
    • Humans use secondary metabolites as medicines, flavorings, and recreational drugs.

  • Metabolomics

    • Metabolomics is the scientific study of chemical processes involving metabolites.
    • METLIN contained over 10,000 metabolites and tandem mass spectral data.
    • Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism.
    • In plant-based metabolomics, it is common to refer to "primary metabolites," which are directly involved in growth, development and reproduction, and "secondary metabolites," which are indirectly involved in growth, development and reproduction.
    • These measurements may be digitized spectra, or a list of metabolite levels.

  • Inhibiting Essential Metabolite Synthesis

    • An antimetabolite is a chemical that inhibits the use of a metabolite, a chemical that is part of normal metabolism.
    • An antimetabolite is a chemical that inhibits the use of a metabolite, a chemical that is part of normal metabolism.
    • Such substances are often similar in structure to the metabolite that they interfere with, such as antifolates that interfere with the use of folic acid.

  • Plant Defenses Against Pathogens

    • Plants defend against pathogens with barriers, secondary metabolites, and antimicrobial compounds.
    • Secondary metabolites are compounds that are not directly derived from photosynthesis and are not necessary for respiration or plant growth and development.
    • Many metabolites are toxic and can even be lethal to animals that ingest them.
    • In addition to secondary metabolites, plants produce antimicrobial chemicals, antimicrobial proteins, and antimicrobial enzymes that are able to fight the pathogens.

  • Plant Defenses Against Herbivores

    • Plants defend against herbivores with mechanical wounding, barriers, secondary metabolites, and attraction of parasitoids.
    • Secondary metabolites are compounds that are not directly derived from photosynthesis and are not necessary for respiration or plant growth and development.
    • Many metabolites are toxic and can even be lethal to animals that ingest them.
    • Some metabolites are alkaloids, which discourage predators with noxious odors (such as the volatile oils of mint and sage) or repellent tastes (like the bitterness of quinine).

  • Flame Cells of Planaria and Nephridia of Worms

    • After excretion, any useful metabolites are reabsorbed by the cell.
    • A nephridium is more evolved than a flame cell in that it has a system for reabsorption of some useful waste products, such as metabolites and ions, by a capillary network before excretion (unlike planaria that can only reabsorb useful metabolites after excretion).

  • Nonribosomal Peptide Antibiotics

    • Nonribosomal peptides (NRP) are a class of peptide secondary metabolites which can function as antibiotics.
    • Nonribosomal peptides (NRP) are a class of peptide secondary metabolites, usually produced by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi.

  • Clostridial and Propionic Acid Fermentation

    • Acetic acid is equally a co-metabolite of the organic substrates' fermentation (sugars, glycerol, lactic acid, etc.) by diverse groups of microorganisms which produce different acids: Propionic bacteria (propionate + acetate), Clostridium (butyrate + acetate), Enterobacteria (acetate + lactate), Hetero-fermentative bacteria (acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, etc.)
    • In this reaction, the intermediary metabolites produced are metabolized to acetate, hydrogen, and carbonic gas by the three main groups of bacteria—homoacetogens, syntrophes, and sulphoreductors.
    • Acetic acid is equally a co-metabolite of the organic substrates' fermentation (sugars, glycerol, lactic acid, etc.) by diverse groups of microorganisms, which produce different acids:

  • Ergot Poisoning

    • Alkaloids are produced within various organisms as a secondary metabolite.
    • Secondary metabolites are most commonly produced in plants as a defense system.