Two phases are involved in order to produce reductive agents like NADPH and 5C atom containing pentoses for the nucleotide metabolism
Stages of the pathway
In the direct oxidation/pentose phosphate pathway:
- NADPH is produced and (oxidative phase)
- Ribose-5-phosphate is produced from glucose (non-oxidative phase)
It occurs in the cytosol and has its oxidative and non-oxidative phases (Figure 1).