Pathway Diagram Generator
List the pathway steps and which ones activate or inhibit the next. LitFigure drafts the figure; you confirm the biology.
Updated 2026-10-03
Steps stay in order
Name the sequence so the draft does not invent extra branches you did not ask for.
Mark activation and inhibition
Say which connectors are arrows and which are inhibition bars. Those marks are the scientific content.
Editing depends on the export
Labels in whole-image SVG may be outlines rather than editable text. PPTX availability and object editability depend on the document type. Inspect the exported file before relying on text or object editing.
What is a pathway diagram generator?
A pathway diagram is a mechanism figure organized as a sequence: signaling, metabolism, or a checkpoint cascade. Each node is a molecule or complex, and each connector states what it does to the next node.
Why it matters
- Pathway figures are where reviewers look for a backwards arrow or a missing inhibitor
- A named sequence is easier to check against the paper than a free-form illustration
- The same cascade is reused in the main text, the abstract figure and the talk
- Leaving inhibition unmarked makes an activating arrow look like the claim
Where it is used
- Signaling figures in cell and molecular biology papers
- Metabolic schematics in methods and reviews
- Immunology checkpoint overviews
- Teaching slides that walk through a cascade
How to make one
Write the cascade
One line per step, including the inhibitor or drug if it matters.
Generate
The studio turns that list into a draft pathway panel.
Verify nodes and marks
Check names, phosphorylation or binding claims, and the final export format.
Frequently asked questions
Does this include a curated pathway database?
No. The figure comes from the steps you provide. It does not look up KEGG or Reactome and fill in missing reactions.
Can I show both activation and inhibition?
Yes. State both in the description. Then check that the draft used an arrow and an inhibition mark in the places you named.
Is a pathway diagram the same as a graphical abstract?
A pathway diagram follows the cascade. A graphical abstract summarizes the whole paper, and a pathway may be only one part of it.
Is this free to try?
Opening the studio is free. Generation uses starter credits after email verification, then the packs listed on the pricing page.