Pantothenic acid metabolic pathway

Pantothenic acid metabolism encompasses the cellular uptake, utilization, and conversion of the vitamin pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) into its active form, principally coenzyme A (CoA). CoA plays a critical role as an acyl group carrier in hundreds of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, including fatty acid synthesis and degradation, energy production (tricarboxylic acid cycle), and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. The pathway involves the enzymatic phosphorylation of pantothenic acid (notably by pantothenate kinase in the initial step), with additional enzymes catalyzing subsequent reactions. It is fundamental to cellular metabolism in both humans and microbes. The genetic and enzymatic steps differ between organisms, which makes some individual enzymes attractive as antibiotic targets, but the pathway itself is not a drug target or receptor.

Other names

Pantothenate and CoA biosynthesisVitamin B5 metabolismPantothenate metabolism