Table 3.

Net reaction balance equations and functional attributes of basis pathways used to span the null space of the red blood cell stoichiometric matrix

Basis pathway	Net reaction equation	Primary functional attribute
p1	glucose + 2 Pi + 2 ADP → 2 lactate + 2 ATP	ATP energy production for metabolic energy
p2	glucose + 2 NAD+ → 2 pyruvate + 2 NADH + 2 H+	NADH energy production for methemoglobin reduction
p3	glucose + 2 Pi + 2 ADP + 2 NAD+ → 2 pyruvate + 2 ATP +2 NADH + 2 H+	ATP production for metabolic energy and NADH production for methemoglobin reduction
p4	glucose + 2 ATP + 2 NAD+ → 2 23DPG + 2 Pi + 2 ADP +2 NADH + 2 H+	2,3-DPG production for oxyhemoglobin modulation
p5	glucose + ATP + 2 NADP+ → R5P + CO2 + ADP + 2 NADPH + 2 H+	Ribose 5-phosphate production for adenosine salvaging
p6	glucose + 12 NADP+ → 6 CO2 + 12 NADPH + 12 H+	NADPH energy production for glutathione reduction and subsequent antioxidant activity
p7–p22	(no net reaction)	(none)