Nucleotide salvage pathways are biochemical processes that recycle nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA and RNA, from degraded nucleic acids. Instead of synthesizing nucleotides from scratch, cells can efficiently reclaim and reuse these components, saving energy and resources. This is particularly important in rapidly dividing cells, where the demand for nucleotides is high. These pathways involve specific enzymes that convert free bases and nucleosides back into nucleotides. For example, the enzyme adenine phosphoribosyltransferase helps convert adenine into adenosine monophosphate (AMP). By utilizing salvage pathways, cells maintain nucleotide pools and support essential cellular functions.