primary metabolite

{{Short description|All metabolites involved in growth}}

A primary metabolite is a kind of metabolite that is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. It usually performs a physiological function in the organism (i.e. an intrinsic function). A primary metabolite is typically present in many organisms or cells. It is also referred to as a central metabolite, which has an even more restricted meaning (present in any autonomously growing cell or organism). Some common examples of primary metabolites include: lactic acid, and certain amino acids. Note that primary metabolites do not show any pharmacological actions or effects.

Plant growth regulators may be classified as both primary and secondary metabolites due to their role in plant growth and development.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tankonyvtar.hu/en/tartalom/tamop425/0010_1A_Book_angol_01_novenyelettan/ch03s05.html|title=Plant Physiology{{!}}Digital Textbook Library|website=www.tankonyvtar.hu|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-16}}{{Cite journal| vauthors = Prins CL, Vieira IJ, Freitas SP |title=Growth regulators and essential oil production|journal=Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology|year=2010|volume=22|issue=2|pages=91–102|doi=10.1590/S1677-04202010000200003|issn=1677-0420|doi-access=free}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F4AZCgAAQBAJ|title=Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants| vauthors = Buchanan BB, Gruissem W, Jones RL |date=2015-07-02|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9781118502198|language=en}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6BlbAfDveQ | veditors = Rosenthal GA, Berenbaum MR |title=Herbivores, their interactions with secondary plant metabolites. Volume II, Ecological and evolutionary processes |date=2012 |publisher=Academic Press |location=San Diego |isbn=978-0-08-092545-5 |edition=2nd}} Some of them are intermediates between primary and secondary metabolism.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uKPwBwAAQBAJ|title=Plant Secondary Metabolism| vauthors = Seigler DS |date=2012-12-06|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9781461549130|language=en}}