Salvage pathways are biological processes that recycle components of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Instead of synthesizing these molecules from scratch, cells can use salvage pathways to reclaim and reuse parts from degraded nucleotides, making the process more efficient and conserving energy. These pathways are crucial for maintaining cellular function, especially in rapidly dividing cells like those in the bone marrow or immune system. Key enzymes in salvage pathways, such as hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), help convert free bases and nucleosides back into nucleotides, supporting DNA and RNA synthesis.