Metabolic network

Metabolic network is like a big city where different buildings, roads, and people work together to keep things running smoothly. In our body, metabolic network is where different chemicals called metabolites interact with each other and with special proteins called enzymes to create energy, grow new cells, and carry out other important processes.

Think of enzymes like the workers in the different buildings, and metabolites like the things they need to make stuff or get their jobs done. Just like a city needs different buildings like hospitals, schools, and supermarkets to function properly, our metabolic network needs different types of metabolites and enzymes to carry out different tasks.

For example, when we eat food, our body breaks it down into small molecules like glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids. These small molecules are then used by different enzymes and metabolites to create energy, build new cells, and carry out other important processes in our body.

Sometimes, things can go wrong in the metabolic network. Just like how construction on a road can cause traffic jam and slow down the overall function of a city, a defect in one enzyme or metabolite can cause a metabolic disorder that affects the entire network. These disorders can lead to symptoms like muscle weakness, developmental delay, and other health problems.

So, just like how a city needs constant maintenance and repair to keep things running smoothly, our metabolic network also needs to be constantly monitored and adjusted to ensure that our body is functioning properly.