Answer:
In order for a secondary metabolite to become active, it must be enzymatically cleaved from a sugar conjugate. This process is necessary in order to release the active compound from the sugar molecule. Once the compound is released, it can then bind to specific receptors and produce the desired effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vast majority of secondary metabolites are conjugated to sugars, and many of these compounds must be cleaved enzymatically from the sugar in order to become active. The most common type of sugar moiety found in these compounds is a glucose, but other monosaccharides (such as galactose and mannose) and disaccharides (such as maltose and sucrose) are also found. In some cases, the sugar may be attached to the compound through an ether linkage, while in others it may be attached via a thioester bond. Regardless of the type of linkage, the sugar must be cleaved for the compound to be active.There are a variety of enzymes that can catalyze the cleavage of these sugar moieties, including hydrolases, lyases, and oxidoreductases. The specific enzyme required depends on the structure of the particular compound. In some cases, more than one enzyme may be required for complete cleavage. For example, when glucose is conjugated to a secondary metabolite via an ether linkage, two enzymes are required: an alcohol dehydrogenase to break the ether bond and a glucosidase to release the glucose moiety.Once the sugar is cleaved from the compound, it is typically metabolized by other enzymes in the cell. In some cases, this metabolism may activate the compound; in others, it may result in its degradation.