Phosphoketolaasireittiä

Phosphoketolaasireittiä, also known as the phosphoketolase pathway, is a metabolic route involved in carbohydrate metabolism. It is distinct from glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway, though it shares some intermediates and enzymes with them. The pathway is primarily found in certain bacteria and fungi, and plays a role in the breakdown of sugars.

A key enzyme in the phosphoketolase pathway is phosphoketolase, which catalyzes the cleavage of a ketose-6-phosphate into a triose phosphate and a molecule of acetyl phosphate. This unique step differentiates it from other sugar breakdown pathways. The subsequent reactions involve enzymes common to glycolysis, leading to the production of ATP and other metabolic products.

The phosphoketolase pathway is particularly important in organisms that lack complete sets of enzymes for glycolysis or the pentose phosphate pathway. For instance, it allows some obligate anaerobic bacteria to generate energy from sugars. In some cases, it can work in conjunction with other pathways to efficiently catabolize carbohydrates under specific environmental conditions. The pathway's existence highlights the diversity of metabolic strategies employed by microorganisms.