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Difference between Primary

Metabolites and Secondary
Metabolites

The metabolites which are required for the growth and maintenance of cellular function are
called primary metabolites, while such metabolites which are not required for the growth and
maintenance of the cellular functions and are the end products of the primary metabolism are
called as secondary metabolites.

Microbial Metabolic products are the low molecular weight compound, necessary for the cell’s
or body metabolism processes. These products are classified as the primary and secondary
metabolites.

The primary metabolites consist of the vitamins, amino acids, nucleosides and organic acids,
which are necessary at the time of logarithmic phase of microbial growth. But the products like
alkaloids, steroids, antibiotics, gibberellins, toxins are the secondary metabolite compound
produced during the stationary phase of the cell growth.

The microorganisms possess the tremendous capacity to synthesize the variety of products that
are commercially used. The substantial difference between the primary metabolites and
secondary metabolites are discussed hereunder, along with their importance in microbiology.

Content: Primary Vs Secondary Metabolites

Comparison Chart

Basis for
Primary Metabolites
Comparison
The metabolism products that are
produced during the growth phase of an
organisms in order to perform the
Meaning
physiological functions and supports in
overall development of the cell are called
primary metabolites.
Also known as Trophophase.
It occurs at the Growth phase.
These are produced in large quantities,
Production
and their extraction is easy.
Same in every species, which means they
Occurrence
produce the same products.
1.These products are used in industries
for various purpose.
Importance 2. Primary products play the significant
role in the cell growth, reproduction and
development.
Vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and
Examples
lipids are some of the examples.
Secondary Metabolites
The end products of primary
metabolism that are synthesized after
the growth phase has been completed
and are important in ecological and
other activities of the cell are known as
secondary metabolites.
Idiophase.
Stationary phase.
These are produced in small quantities,
and their extraction is difficult.
Varies in different species.
1.Secondary metabolites such as
antibiotics, gibberellins are also
important.
2. They also indirectly support the cell,
in sustaining their life for long
duration.
Phenolics, steroids, essential oils,
alkaloids, steroids are few examples.

Definition of Primary Metabolites

Primary metabolites are the compound produced during the growth phase. The process is called
primary metabolism or trophophase. It starts when all the required nutrients are present in the
medium for an organism to grow. The importance of primary metabolism is in the cell’s growth,
reproduction, and development. In this stage, the cell possess minimum concentration of all the
molecules (DNA, RNA, etc.)

During the period of trophophase, the exponential growth of the microorganisms starts. There are
various metabolic products which together constitute the primary metabolites. These products are
vitamins, nucleosides, amino acids, etc. The primary metabolites are further divided into two
categories:
1. Primary essential metabolites.
2. Primary metabolic end products.

1. Primary essential metabolites – These are the important compounds requires to sustain the
process of cell growth, and hence these are produced in adequate amount. Vitamins, nucleosides,
amino acids are the example of the essential metabolites.
2. Primary metabolic end products – Compounds such as ethanol, acetone, lactic acid, butanol
are the normal end products of the fermentation process of primary metabolism.

Although these products are not important, sometimes have industrial importance too. For
instance, carbon dioxide is the metabolic end-product of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but it
(CO2) is important in the baking industry for leavening of the dough.

Importance of the primary metabolites

Excessive production of the primary metabolites is very important and useful in the large scale
purposes in industry. Even the enzymes find during the process have many uses in food
production, textile finishing, and other industries too.

Definition of Secondary Metabolites

After the trophophase or as soon as the exponential phase ends, the process enters into the
another phase called as idiophase or secondary metabolism. The products are called as
secondary metabolites (idiolites), which are produced at the end of the process. This phase
occurs at the period of the limited nutrient or when there is the accumulation of the waste
products.

Although the compounds like antibiotics, alkaloids, steroids, gibberellins, toxins, etc. do not have
the direct relation to the synthesis of cell materials and their growth, but are produced in small
quantity. Hence secondary metabolites are considered as the end products of the primary
metabolites.

Importance of the secondary metabolites

Secondary metabolites are produced by very specific microorganisms only, mainly antibiotics
and other products are used. Generally microorganisms synthesize numerous group of secondary
metabolites compounds instead of one, for example, a strain of Streptomyces produces 35
anthracyclines at a time, instead of one. These are not required for the growth, reproduction, and
development of the cell.

As stated above, that secondary metabolites do not directly benefit the cell growth and
development, but they perform some unknown function which supports the cell survival.

Key Differences Between Primary and Secondary

Metabolites
Following are the noteworthy points which distinguish the primary metabolites to that of the
secondary metabolites:

1. The primary metabolites are considered as the products that are produced during the
growth phase of organisms and are primarily involved in the growth and development of
 an organism. On the other hand, secondary metabolites are said to be as the end
products of the primary metabolites, involved in the stationary phase during the growth of
a microorganism and play a role in ecological functions.
2. Primary metabolism pathway occurs at the growth phase and is also known as
trophophase while the secondary metabolism pathway occurs at the stationary phase
and is also known as idiophase.
3. Primary metabolites are produced in large quantities, and their extraction is easy, in fact,
the products are same in every species, whereas secondary metabolites are produced in
small quantities, and their extraction is difficult, even their products are different for
different species.
4. The products manufactured during the primary metabolism pathway are useful in
industries for various purpose and also plays very important role in the cell growth,
reproduction and development.Whereas secondary metabolites such as antibiotics,
gibberellins are also important and they also indirectly support the cell, in their survival
for a long time.
5. Examples of primary metabolites are vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids while
secondary metabolites examples are phenolics, steroids, essential oils, alkaloids, steroids
are few examples.

Conclusion

Microorganisms have the formidable capacity to produce numerous products, during their life
cycle. Some of these products have a great importance, while some are said to be as waste end
products.

Though from the above description, we conclude that the two types of products produced during
the cell growth are categorized as primary metabolites and secondary metabolites. These
products are classified by their importance during the cell growth.