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.
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.