The Pentose Phosphate Pathway: Introduction

Both glycolysis and its parallel metabolic, the pentose phosphate pathway, start with the breakdown of glucose, i.e. glucose-6-phosphate. Divided into two distinct phases, the pentose phosphate pathway generates NADPH and pentoses, which can be used in other metabolic pathways. The pentose phosphate pathway is a small, but very important biochemical pathway physicians should be aware of, as, for instance, the metabolic disorder glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) may impart a distinct selective advantage against malaria.