General metabolic and biosynthetic pathways

General metabolic and biosynthetic pathways refer to the comprehensive network of biochemical reactions that sustain cellular life by converting nutrients into energy and essential molecular building blocks. These processes are broadly divided into catabolism, the breakdown of molecules to obtain energy, and anabolism, the synthesis of all compounds needed by the cells, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids (StatPearls, 2023). While this term describes a fundamental biological framework, it does not represent a single, discrete therapeutic target; instead, it encompasses thousands of individual enzymes, transporters, and regulatory proteins (NCBI, 2022). Many specific components within these pathways are major drug targets, such as HMG-CoA reductase for cholesterol management or dihydrofolate reductase in chemotherapy (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2016). Dysregulation of these pathways is a hallmark of various diseases, most notably the metabolic reprogramming seen in cancer cells (the Warburg effect) and the systemic imbalances in diabetes and obesity (Wikipedia, 2024). Because the term refers to a broad biological system rather than a specific molecule, it is generally considered a functional category in pharmacology rather than a singular druggable receptor or enzyme.

Other names

MetabolismBiosynthesisIntermediary metabolismMetabolic networkCellular metabolism

Modulation of specific rate-limiting enzymes or transporters within individual metabolic routes to alter metabolite flux.