Intracellular metabolism

Intracellular metabolism is the comprehensive set of biochemical reactions occurring within a cell, encompassing both anabolic pathways for biosynthesis and catabolic pathways for energy production [1, 3]. It is not a singular molecular target but rather a vast network of enzymes, transporters, and regulatory proteins that maintain cellular homeostasis [3, 14]. Pathological alterations in intracellular metabolism are characteristic of many diseases, most notably the 'Warburg effect' in cancer, where cells shift toward aerobic glycolysis to fuel rapid growth [4, 12]. Therapeutic strategies often target specific nodes within this network, such as metabolic enzymes (e.g., hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase) or nutrient transporters, to disrupt disease-specific metabolic dependencies [4, 7]. Because metabolic pathways are fundamental to all living cells, drug development in this area must carefully balance therapeutic efficacy against the risk of damaging healthy tissues [8, 9].

Other names

Cellular metabolismIntermediary metabolismIntracellular metabolic pathwaysIntracellular spatiotemporal metabolism

Inhibition of specific metabolic enzymes, transporters, or regulatory pathways to modulate nutrient flux and energy production.