Interaction of Biochemical Pathways

A central array of metabolic pathways exists within all living things. These pathways are responsible for the breakdown of essential nutrients into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and other molecules necessary for the release of energy into the body. As shown in figure 3, all metabolic pathways interact in one form or another during the energy production process. The interrelationships of metabolic pathways take various forms and always result in three junction points: glucose-6-phosphate, Pyruvate, and Acetyl CoA (Stoker 503). The fact that human beings can gain fat on a predominantly carbohydrate diet is evidence that the metabolic pathways interact and that nutrients can be converted from one form to another