The main products produced from the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) include __________________ and ___________________. The first metabolite from glycolysis that enters the PPP is __________________. The glycolytic metabolites that are produced by the PPP include ____________ and ___________________. The Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP): Products and Uses

The Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP): Products and Uses

The Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP) is a biochemical pathway that helps to produce energy for the body. The PPP also produces essential molecules such as NADPH and ribose-5-phosphate. These molecules are used to build or repair cell components, including DNA and proteins. The main products of the PPP include NADPH, ribose-5-phosphate, and pentose sugars like ribulose-5-phosphate. NADPH is an important coenzyme that is involved in many metabolic processes, such as the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol. It also helps to reduce reactive oxygen species, which can cause damage to cells and DNA (Hajra, et al., 2018).  Ribose-5-phosphate is a five-carbon sugar that is used to synthesize nucleotides such as ATP and GTP. It is also used to make nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA (Ganguly and Sen, 2020). The pentose sugars produced by the PPP are also important molecules. These molecules are used to make nucleotides, as well as other compounds like amino sugars and ascorbic acid. The pentose sugars produced by the PPP also play an important role in photosynthesis (Liu, et al., 2016). Cont…..