Lecture notes - The primary and secondary metabolites PDF

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Lecture notes - The primary and secondary metabolites The Primary metabolites are the compounds that are directly involved in the metabolic pathways of an organism necessary for its growth, development, and reproduction. These metabolites are associated with the physiological processes occurring in the organism. The Primary metabolites are produced in the organism during the growth phase, as a result of the growth mechanism. The growth phase associated with the production of primary metabolites is termed as ‘trophophase’. The production of primary metabolites is initiated when the nutrients necessary for the body are available in the medium. These are found in most cells throughout the body and are also termed central metabolites. The Primary metabolites are crucial for various metabolic activities as some act as a substrate for these processes, while others act as catalysts. Some primary metabolites like amino acids are common throughout the organisms, whereas some are restricted to some cells or some organisms. This is even though primary metabolites play an essential role in the growth and development of an individual, these do not have pharmacological actions or effects against other factors. The production of primary metabolites usually occurs at a high rate as these are constantly required for the body. These can also be extracted easily through simple extraction procedures. The Primary metabolites are divided into two groups; primary essential metabolites and primary metabolic end products. The Primary essential metabolites include compounds like proteins and carbohydrates that make up the structural and physiological organization of the organism. In contrast, primary metabolic end products include products like lactic acid and ethanol that are the end products of various metabolic pathways. Examples of primary metabolites include proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, ethanol, lactic acid, butanol, etc.

The Secondary Metabolites Definition Secondary metabolites are the organic compounds that are produced by various organisms that are not directly involved in the growth, development, or reproduction of the organism but are essential in the ecological and other activities. The Secondary metabolites are also termed specialized metabolites or natural products. Because secondary metabolites are not involved in the growth and development of the organism, the absence of these compounds causes little to no effect on the survivability of the organism. However, in the long run, some mild effects might be observed.

There are some secondary metabolites are specific to a species and are only found in them, but the horizontal transfer of these metabolites across species has seen to play an important role in the evolution of some organisms. Although they are not important for survival, secondary metabolites might be important for other activities like protection, competition, and species interaction. The Secondary metabolites are classified into groups based on their biosynthetic origin. Some of the secondary metabolites are derived forms of primary metabolites. These are also formed during the stationary phase of growth in most organisms. This phase of growth is termed ‘idiophase’. Most secondary metabolites tend to act as a defense mechanism against various foreign invaders. These are produced in rather smaller quantities and are difficult to extract. Secondary metabolites are also not a part of the molecular organization of the organism. Some categories of secondary metabolites have been used in various biotechnological procedures for the formation of drugs and other compounds. Since secondary metabolites are specific to species, different secondary metabolites are involved in various procedures. There are Some examples of secondary metabolites include steroids, essential oils, phenolics, alkaloids, pigments, antibiotics, etc....