Precursor (chemistry)

As a precursor (English precursor praecursor from latin, precursor ') is in chemistry or biochemistry with a pathway called a molecule as the starting material (see the reactant) enters into a reaction. This is often a complex and differentiated product, sometimes with the participation of other precursors formed.

Chemical Synthesis

The term is used in relation to chemical reactions and may refer to:

• Starting materials for further synthesis steps
• Precursors, which can be used for the production of narcotics ( quite technically referred to as basic substances or precursors ), but does not itself have to be effective as an anesthetic
• A film-forming precursors in the chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition

Biochemical processes

Examples based on the biochemical biosynthesis of metabolites:

• Amino acid metabolism Serine and choline are precursors of glycine.
• Serine and methionine are precursors of cysteine. This in turn is the precursor in the biosynthesis of compounds such as glutathione, coenzyme A and taurine.
• Phenylalanine is the precursor of the tyrosine.
• Glutamic acid is the precursor of proline.

• Precursor mRNA
• Precursor proteins