metabolon

1 9.9

A temporary group of enzymes that work together in a cell's chemical reactions

noun
/məˈtæbəˌlɒn/

Specialized

: metabolón

The metabolon plays a crucial role in metabolic pathways.
glycolytic metabolon

Examples

Understanding how a metabolon assembles can help in designing better drugs.
The efficiency of the metabolic pathway increased when the metabolon formed.
Scientists discovered a new metabolon involved in the plant's defense mechanism.
Researchers discovered a new type of metabolon in the study.
The glycolytic metabolon functions as a temporary assembly of enzymes, enabling metabolic reactions to occur efficiently.
Researchers discovered that the metabolon plays a crucial role in energy production within cells by coordinating enzymatic activities.
In many cells, a metabolon forms quickly to facilitate the breakdown of glucose during high energy demand.

Surface Forms

metabolon singular

metabolons plural

Morphology

metabolon = metabolism (semi-transparent) = metabol + on

Formed from the combining form 'metabol-' (related to 'metabolism') plus the technical suffix '-on' to name a biochemical complex; the relation to metabolism is clear but the suffix and technical sense make it specialized.

Etymology

The word metabolon comes from the root metabol- meaning 'change' and used in metabolism, plus the ending -on, a science ending that means a single 'unit' as in proton. So, a metabolon is like a 'unit' of enzymes that join together to pass molecules along a step-by-step process in the cell, which is why it means enzymes working together in a metabolic pathway.