Circulating metabolite levels are our window into physiological homeostasis. Beyond glucose, our understanding of how homeostasis is maintained for other major metabolites is less developed. Li et al. demonstrate that for most major circulating metabolites, there is a linear relationship between breakdown in the TCA cycle and systemic levels, and thus mass-action-driven oxidation is a major regulator of systemic metabolite levels.
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Wallace, M. Metabolic balance—a masterclass in mass action. Nat Metab 4, 17–18 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-021-00522-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-021-00522-4