Definition of Metabolic pathway

In biochemistry, a metabolic pathway is a series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell. In each pathway a principal chemical is modified by chemical reactions. These reactions are accelerated, more accurately catalyzed, by enzymes. Dietary minerals, vitamins and other cofactors are often needed by the enzyme to perform its task. Many pathways are elaborate. Various metabolic pathways within each cell form that cell's metabolic network. Pathways are needed by an organism to keep its homeostasis. Metabolism is a step by step modification of the initial molecule to shape it into another product. The result can be used in one of three ways.

• Stored by the cell.
• Be used immediately, as a metabolic product.
• Initiate another metabolic pathway, called a flux generating step.