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Metabolite - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A metabolite is a small molecule produced during metabolism, the chemical processes that occur in living organisms to maintain life. It can be an intermediate or end product of these reactions.

metabolite

/məˈtæbəlaɪt/ /mɪˈtæbəlaɪt/

Definition:

A substance produced during metabolism or necessary for metabolic processes.

Synonyms:

metabolic product, biochemical, intermediate, catabolite

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

toxin, inhibitor

Common Collocations:

primary metabolite, secondary metabolite, metabolic pathway, metabolite profiling

Derivatives:

metabolize, metabolism

Usage Tips:

Use "metabolite" to describe compounds formed in biochemical reactions within organisms.

Common Phrases:

metabolic waste, active metabolite, toxic metabolite

Etymology:

Derived from Greek "metabole" (change) + "-ite" (suffix indicating a product).

Examples:

  • 1. The liver processes drugs into metabolites for excretion.
  • 2. Plants produce secondary metabolites as defense mechanisms.
  • 3. Scientists study metabolites to understand cellular functions.
  • 4. Some metabolites can indicate disease in medical tests.

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