What is the metabolic pool?

Metabolic pools, which are made up of metabolites—products of or substrates for important reactions in cells—allow one type of molecule to be changed into another, such as carbohydrates being converted into fats. This idea is fundamental to the study of cellular biology.

An enzyme can function on a reservoir of molecules found in a cell (or an organelle such as a chloroplast). The volume of this reservoir is called its metabolic pool.

For instance, the Kreb's cycle and glycolysis are open systems, meaning that materials can flow into and out of them in two different ways: (a) different compounds can enter the pathways at different points, allowing proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to all be oxidized; (b) some of the intermediate of these pathways can be withdrawn at the same time and used in synthesis reactions. As a result, the products of the Kreb's cycle and glycolysis form a metabolic pool, from which materials can be added or removed in accordance with the body's needs.

The metabolic pool refers to the collective pool of metabolites within a cell or organism involved in various metabolic pathways. It includes molecules like ATP, NADH, and other intermediates crucial for energy production and cellular processes.