What is hexose monophosphate (HMP) pathway ?

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of Hexose Monophosphate (HMP) Pathway**:
The Hexose Monophosphate (HMP) pathway, also known as the pentose phosphate pathway, is a metabolic pathway parallel to glycolysis. It primarily serves as a means of generating NADPH and ribose-5-phosphate.

2. **Main Functions of the HMP Pathway**:
- **Generative Power**: The HMP pathway is multifunctional, meaning it has several roles in cellular metabolism. Its main function includes the generation of NADPH, which is essential for various biosynthetic reactions.
- **Reductive Power**: The pathway utilizes NAD (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) to produce NADPH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). NADPH serves as a reducing agent in various biochemical reactions.
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