Biological pathway

Biological pathway refers to a series of actions among molecules in a cell that leads to a certain product or a change in the cell. Such a pathway can trigger the assembly of new molecules, such as a fat or protein. Pathways can also turn genes on and off, or spur a cell to move. Some of the most common biological pathways include metabolic pathways, signal transduction pathways, and gene regulatory pathways.

Overview

A biological pathway is a series of interactions among molecules in a cell that leads to a certain product or a change in a cell. The molecules at the start of the process are called substrates, and the molecules at the end of the process are the products. In biological pathways, the substrates, products, and intermediates are primarily metabolites, which are small molecules such as sugars, amino acids, and nucleotides.

Types of Biological Pathways

Metabolic Pathways

Metabolic pathways are the sequences of chemical reactions that occur in a cell. The enzymes that catalyze these reactions are tightly regulated to ensure they occur at the appropriate time and place. Metabolic pathways can be either catabolic (breaking down of compounds) or anabolic (building of compounds).

Signal Transduction Pathways

Signal transduction pathways are sequences of reactions in a cell that lead to a response to an extracellular signal. These pathways are critical for the proper functioning of the cell and organism. They can regulate a wide variety of cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, and death.

Gene Regulatory Pathways

Gene regulatory pathways are the series of interactions that control the expression of genes in a cell. These pathways can be influenced by a variety of factors, including environmental signals, developmental cues, and disease states.

Role in Disease

Alterations in biological pathways can lead to disease. For example, mutations in genes that encode for proteins involved in these pathways can lead to a variety of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding these pathways and their role in disease can help in the development of new therapeutic strategies.

See Also

• Metabolism
• Signal transduction
• Gene regulation