Technical term in biochemistry for a compound that precedes another in a metabolic pathway.
この酵素は前駆体を活性型に変換する。
This enzyme converts the precursor into its active form.
Compound of 前駆 (zenku, 'precursor, forerunner') and 体 (tai, 'body, substance'). The exact derivation is uncertain; the term is used in modern biochemistry.