Human Biochemistry, Volume 1 - Murray R. 1993

Bioenergetics and Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism
Gluconeogenesis and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway
The Pentose Phosphate Pathway, or Hexose Monophosphate Shunt — Biomedical Significance

The Pentose Phosphate Pathway does not lead to ATP synthesis; instead, it serves two primary Functions: 1) the generation of NADPH for reductive biosyntheses, such as the synthesis of Fatty acids and Steroids; and 2) the provision of ribose for nucleotide and nucleic acid synthesis. A deficiency in certain Enzymes of The pentose phosphate pathway can lead to erythrocyte hemolysis. For instance, one form of hemolytic anemia is caused by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Approximately 100 million people worldwide live with a genetically determined low level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; this enzyme exists in various isoforms with differing activities, which can be detected using Electrophoresis or other Methods.

Class="center">

Fig. 20.4. Formation of the Pyruvate carboxylase CO2-biotin-enzyme complex and the pyruvate-to-oxaloacetate conversion catalyzed by it.



Last update: 06/08/2026

Editorial and Educational Adaptation: This material has been compiled based on the primary/original source text. The project team performed an editorial review, corrected technical inaccuracies, structured sections, and adapted the content for an educational format.

What was processed:

  • elimination of formatting defects (OCR errors, structural breaks, corrupted characters);
  • editorial organization of content;
  • standardization of terminology in accordance with academic sources;
  • verification of factual statements against the original source text.

All mentions of the author, publication year, and origin of the primary text have been preserved in accordance with the source.