Final answer:
A metabolic pathway is a series of biochemical reactions that convert a substrate molecule through a series of intermediates. Pathway maps should include chemical structures of reactants and products, but not structures of ATP, ADP, NAD, NADH, NADP, and NADPH. Enzymes are necessary for the reactions in metabolic pathways.
Step-by-step explanation:
A metabolic pathway is a series of sequential biochemical reactions that convert a substrate molecule or molecules, step-by-step, through a series of metabolic intermediates, eventually yielding a final product or products. There are two types of metabolic pathways: anabolic pathways, which build more complex molecules, and catabolic pathways, which break down complex molecules.
In the case of metabolic pathway maps, it is important to include the chemical structures of all reactants and products of all biochemical steps in the pathway. However, structures of ATP, ADP, NAD, NADH, NADP, and NADPH do not need to be drawn out.
Enzymes play a critical role in catalyzing the chemical reactions of metabolic pathways. They facilitate each reaction step and are responsible for both energy-requiring and energy-releasing reactions.