| metabolite | <biochemistry> Any substance produced by metabolism or by a metabolic process. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| primary metabolite | A metabolite excreted during the growth phase. (09 Oct 1997) |
| secondary metabolite | <biochemistry> Chemicals that are usually unique to one organism or class of organisms, and are not essential to cell survival. They perform specialised functions, for example, degrading food sources or fighting off other organisms. Many of the chemicals that plants or microorganisms produce that are of biochemical interest are secondary metabolites, including antibiotics. (14 Nov 1997) |