Phenomena and Processes

Substrate Cycling

A set of opposing, nonequilibrium reactions catalyzed by different enzymes which act simultaneously, with at least one of the reactions driven by ATP hydrolysis. The results of the cycle are that ATP energy is depleted, heat is produced and no net substrate-to-product conversion is achieved. Examples of substrate cycling are cycling of gluconeogenesis and glycolysis pathways and cycling of the triglycerides and fatty acid pathways. Rates of substrate cycling may be increased many-fold in association with hypermetabolic states resulting from severe burns, cold exposure, hyperthyroidism, or acute exercise.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A set of opposing, nonequilibrium reactions catalyzed by different enzymes which act simultaneously, with at least one of the reactions driven by ATP hydrolysis. The results of the cycle are that ATP energy is depleted, heat is produced and no net substrate-to-product conversion is achieved. Examples of substrate cycling are cycling of gluconeogenesis and glycolysis pathways and cycling of the triglycerides and fatty acid pathways. Rates of substrate cycling may be increased many-fold in association with hypermetabolic states resulting from severe burns, cold exposure, hyperthyroidism, or acute exercise.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

23 entry terms
  • Cycling, Substrate
  • Cyclings, Substrate
  • Substrate Cyclings
  • Futile Cycles
  • Futile Cycling
  • Futile Substrate Cycles
  • Futile Substrate Cycling
  • Cycle, Futile
  • Cycle, Futile Substrate
  • Cycles, Futile
  • Cycles, Futile Substrate
  • Cycling, Futile
  • Cycling, Futile Substrate
  • Cyclings, Futile
  • Cyclings, Futile Substrate
  • Futile Cycle
  • Futile Cyclings
  • Futile Substrate Cycle
  • Futile Substrate Cyclings
  • Substrate Cycle, Futile
  • Substrate Cycles, Futile
  • Substrate Cycling, Futile
  • Substrate Cyclings, Futile

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

restricted to enzyme activity; almost never IM; coord NIM with specific enzyme (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

89

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Energy Metabolism (1975-1988)
  • specific substance/metabolism (1975-1988)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. G02.111.833w
  2. G03w.295.835w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Substrate Cycling. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015219. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015219
  2. Substrate Cycling. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futile_cycle
  3. Substrate Cycling. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q905391