What Role Do Nutrients Play in Cellular Metabolism?
Nutrients are central to cellular metabolism, which includes all biochemical reactions occurring within cells.
Glucose, a carbohydrate, is metabolized through glycolysis and the citric acid cycle to produce ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell. Fatty acids undergo β-oxidation to generate acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle for further ATP production. Proteins can be broken down into amino acids, which are then deaminated to enter metabolic pathways.
