reaction pathway
/riˈækʃən ˈpæθweɪ/ · re·ac·tion path·way
noun
- A sequence of chemically linked reactions that convert initial reactants into final products, often involving intermediates and catalysts. The glycolysis reaction pathway transforms glucose into pyruvate through ten enzymatic steps.
- In systems biology, a mapped network of biochemical reactions that together accomplish a cellular function. Researchers modeled the photosynthetic reaction pathway to predict how plants respond to changing light conditions.
Synonyms
metabolic routereaction sequencebiochemical cascadereaction chainmetabolic pathwayreaction routeenzymatic pathwayconversion sequence
Antonyms
Did you know? The phrase "reaction pathway" entered mainstream biochemical literature in the early 1970s, popularized by Koshland's work on enzyme cascades, and helped launch the field of metabolic engineering.