ABSTRACT
The two major products of the pathway are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and ribose 5-phosphate. Ribose 5-phosphate and its derivatives are components of important cellular molecules such as ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), NAD+, flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and coenzyme A (CoA). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is oxidized by the respiratory chain to generate ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. NADPH is used for biosynthetic reactions that require reducing power. The core reactions of the pathway are: oxidative reactions that convert glucose 6-phosphate into ribulose 5-phosphate, generating two NADPH molecules; isomerization of ribulose 5-phosphate to ribose 5-phosphate; and linkage of the pentose phosphate pathway to glycolysis via transketolase and transaldolase.
