The Pentose Phosphate Pathway

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is a pathway of metabolism which parallels glycolysis, but with a main function of anabolism to build molecular structures necessary for life. Although its overall result forms a reductive pathway, its first phase is oxidative as it generates NADPH. In its second phase, it synthesizes pentoses (5-carbon sugars) as well as ribose 5-phosphate, a precursor for constructing nucleotides. For most organisms, this pathway occurs in the cytoplasm, but for plants it mainly takes place in the plastids.

The PPP is especially important in red blood cells (erythrocytes). It is also used in some very ancient prokaryotes like cyanobacteria.

Order and disorder in biological systems.
Cellular Respiration
Oxygen required for metabolism
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