Hexose Monophosphate (HMP) Shunt

NADPH and Pentose Phosphate Pathway

• NADPH is a crucial electron carrier in the body, serving as a reducing agent in various biochemical reactions.
• The primary function of NADPH is to donate electrons and reduce power to various biochemical reactions, thus maintaining the redox balance in the cell.

Functions of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway

• The pentose phosphate pathway is a metabolic pathway that generates NADPH and pentoses from glucose.
• The pathway has two main phases: the oxidative phase, which generates NADPH, and the non-oxidative phase, which generates pentoses.
• The pentose phosphate pathway is essential for nucleotide biosynthesis, as it provides the necessary ribose-5-phosphate for the synthesis of nucleotides.
• The pathway is also involved in the synthesis of amino acids, such as tryptophan and phenylalanine.

Non-Functions of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway

• The pentose phosphate pathway is not involved in the generation of ATP, unlike glycolysis.

Test your knowledge on the Hexose Monophosphate (HMP) shunt, also known as the Pentose Phosphate Pathway. Discover its role in providing NADPH, nucleotide biosynthesis, and the conversion of pentose sugars.