Microbial Metabolites
Microbial metabolites come in a wide variety of chemicals, offering a rich source for discovering new compounds useful to humans. While distinguishing between primary and secondary metabolites of microorganisms can be tricky, they often produce a mix of similar compounds. These secondary metabolites can give them an edge in their environment by inhibiting other species’ growth or helping in resource gathering.
In industrial microbiology, alcohol is a common primary metabolite used in large-scale production, particularly in fermentation for making products like beer and wine. Citric acid, from Aspergillus niger, is widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Secondary metabolites like antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, bacitracin) and atropine, derived from plants, play important roles in human health.
What are Metabolites – Primary and Secondary Metabolites
Metabolites are the intermediate molecules produced during various metabolic processes. Metabolites produced by plants are of two types – primary and secondary metabolites. The metabolites examples are antibiotics, glucose, amino acids, etc. Metabolite functions include signalling molecules, defence, and catalytic activity. In this article, we will cover metabolites, their types -primary and secondary metabolites, along with their functions and examples.
Table of Content
- Metabolites Meaning
- Metabolites in Plants
- Difference Between Primary and Secondary Metabolites
- Human Metabolites
- Microbial Metabolites
- Conclusion – What are Metabolites? – Primary and Secondary
- FAQs on What are Metabolites? – Primary and Secondary