Difference Between Primary Metabolites and Secondary Metabolites

The main difference between primary metabolites and secondary metabolites is that primary metabolites are the metabolites that are necessary for growth and regulation of cell functions while secondary metabolites are the metabolites that are obtained as the end product of primary metabolites. ..

Primary Metabolites vs. Secondary Metabolites

Microbial metabolic products are actually the low molecular weight compound that is essential for the metabolic processes of the cell or body. These products are divided into two main types, that is, the primary metabolites and the secondary metabolites. Primary metabolites are the metabolic products that are formed during the growth phase of an organism to perform physiological functions and to regulate cell development, while secondary metabolites are the end products of primary metabolism that are formed after growth. growth phase and play an important role. role in ecological and many other activities of the cell. Primary metabolites are produced in large quantities and their extraction is easy. while the secondary metabolites are produced in small quantities and their extraction is difficult. amino acids and vitamins, etc.

Comparison chart

Primary metabolites are produced by trophase or primary metabolism during the growth phase. They produced in the presence of all the necessary nutrients. They play an important role in the growth, development and reproduction of a cell. They maintain a normal physiological process, which is why they are also known as a central metabolite. The exponential growth of microorganisms begins during the tropophase. These metabolites are used in different industries for various purposes.

Types

• Primary Essential Metabolites: These are the compounds that are essential for cell growth and therefore are produced in adequate amounts. Nucleosides, vitamins, and amino acids are examples of the main essential metabolites.
• Primary Metabolic End Products: These are the compounds that are the normal end products of the fermentation process of primary metabolism, such as ethanol, acetone, lactic acid, and butanol, etc.

What are secondary metabolites ?

Secondary metabolites produced during the idiophase or secondary metabolism after the exponential phase ends. This phase occurs at the time of limited nutrients or accumulation of waste products. They do not want to play a direct role in cell growth and are produced in small amounts. Therefore, they are known as end products of primary metabolites. Antibiotics, alkaloids, gibberellins, toxins and steroids, etc. are examples of secondary metabolites. They are produced in a large number of industries and also help the cell to maintain its life for a long time. Bacitracin which is derived from an organism Bacillus subtilis is an antibiotic that is commonly used as a topical drug.

Key differences

1. The metabolic products that are formed during the growth phase of an organism to perform physiological functions and to regulate cell development are called primary metabolites, while the end products of primary metabolism that are formed after the growth phase and they play an important role in ecological activities and many others in the cell are known as secondary metabolites.
2. Primary metabolites produced in a phase also known as trophase; Secondary metabolites, on the other hand, are produced in a phase known as the idiophase.
3. Primary metabolites occur in the growth phase on the other hand; secondary metabolites occur in the stationary phase.
4. The primary metabolites are the same in all species. In contrast, the secondary metabolites vary in different species.
5. Primary metabolites are produced in large amounts, but secondary metabolites are produced in small amounts.
6. The extraction of primary metabolites is easy while the extraction of secondary metabolites is difficult.
7. Primary metabolites are used in different industries for various purposes. They play an important role in cell growth, development and reproduction, while there are many important secondary metabolites such as antibiotics and gibberellins, etc. They also help the cell to maintain its life for a long period of time.
8. Vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids are some examples of primary metabolites, while phenolics, essential oils, alkaloids, and steroids are some examples of secondary metabolites.

Final Thought

From the above discussion, it is summarized that primary and secondary metabolites are two types of metabolites. Primary metabolites are those required by the cell for proper growth and maintenance and are produced in large numbers, while secondary metabolites are the end products of primary metabolism and are produced in small quantities.