Pentose phosphate pathway drives vascular maturation Nature Metabolism The Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Parasitic Trypanosomatids: Trends in Parasitology Pentose Phosphate Pathway made simple. This pathway has two major jobs: Generate NADPH Produce ribose 5 phosphate NADPH protects cells from oxidative stress and supports fatty acid, cholesterol, steroid, nitric oxide, and respiratory burst Reserve Flux Capacity in the Pentose Phosphate Pathway by NADPH Binding Is Conserved across Kingdoms ScienceDirect