Metabolic pathways

63 pathways to rebuild step by step

Each link opens the pathway as a board: place the intermediates and enzymes in order, with cofactors shown. See also the map of how the pathways connect.

Energy and core metabolism

Glucose to energy, the cycle that burns acetyl-CoA, and the cycle that disposes of nitrogen

Amino acids

How cells build the 20 amino acids, grouped by the metabolite each family branches from

Pyruvate family

Made from pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis

3-Phosphoglycerate family

Made from 3-phosphoglycerate, a middle compound of glycolysis

Oxaloacetate family

Made from oxaloacetate, a compound of the Krebs cycle

Glutamate family

Made from α-ketoglutarate, a compound of the Krebs cycle

Aromatic family

Made from phosphoenolpyruvate and erythrose 4-phosphate through chorismate

Histidine

Made from PRPP and ATP

Nucleotides

How cells build the building blocks of RNA and DNA

Purines

Adenine and guanine nucleotides, built on a ribose phosphate

Pyrimidines

Uracil, cytosine and thymine nucleotides

Deoxynucleotides and kinases

DNA building blocks made from the ribonucleotides, and the kinases that charge the nucleotides

Salvage and breakdown

How cells reuse the bases and how purines and pyrimidines are broken down

One-carbon and methyl metabolism

Folate carries one carbon units; S-adenosylmethionine carries methyl groups

Made from amino acids

Molecules a cell builds from amino acids

Cofactors and cycles

Heme, NAD and the glyoxylate cycle

Lipids

Fatty acids: building palmitate and breaking fatty acids down

Ketone bodies and isoprenoids

Two uses of acetyl-CoA that meet at HMG-CoA