Last ditch stand

At very low values of EC, when AMP is elevated it is deaminated via AMP deaminase to inosine monophosphate (IMP). This further displaces the adenylate kinase reaction in the direction of ATP synthesis. The IMP is dephosphorylated by nucleotide phosphatase, and the inosine is phosphorylyzed via purine nucleotide phosphorylase, releasing hypoxanthine and ribose 1-phosphate. The latter is metabolized via the pentose phosphate pathway, and most of the carbon atoms enter glycolysis. Because this course of events depletes the overall adenine nucleotide pool, and hence the scope for ATP production in the longer term, it represents a metabolic last ditch stand by the cell to extract energy even from the energy currency itself ... 

After a fatal accident, many organizations down tools and have a safety stand down. This is when work stops employees are grouped in various halls or lecture rooms and are addressed by management and union leaders. The discussion is almost a last ditch stand in an effort to stop high risk situations that have already had dire consequences. It is used as a major wake up call to all that what happened is unacceptable and that the situation must improve from now on. 

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