Akademik

Any product or substrate (foodstuff, intermediate, waste product) of metabolism, especially of catabolism. SYN: metabolin.

- primary m. a m. synthesized in a step in primary metabolism.

- secondary m. a m. synthesized in a step in secondary metabolism.

me·tab·o·lite -.līt n

1) a product of metabolism:

a) a metabolic waste usu. more or less toxic to the organism producing it: EXCRETION

b) a product of one metabolic process that is essential to another such process in the same organism

c) a metabolic waste of one organism that is markedly toxic to another: ANTIBIOTIC

2) a substance essential to the metabolism of a particular organism or to a particular metabolic process

a substance that takes part in the process of metabolism. Metabolites are either produced during metabolism or are constituents of food taken into the body.