The pentose phosphate pathway is a metabolic process parallel to glycolysis that generates NADPH and pentoses. It plays a crucial role in anabolic reactions and cellular defense against oxidative stress.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The pentose phosphate pathway occurs in the cytoplasm of cells.
It produces NADPH, which is essential for biosynthetic reactions and antioxidant defense.
The pathway has two phases: an oxidative phase that generates NADPH and a non-oxidative phase that produces ribose-5-phosphate.
Ribose-5-phosphate is critical for nucleotide synthesis.
The pathway can operate independently of glycolysis or feed intermediates into it.