All chemical reactions in living organisms, divided into catabolism and anabolism.
Practise Biochemistry, Environment & Industry All Biochemistry, Environment & Industry topics
Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions occurring in a living organism. It is divided into catabolism, in which large molecules are broken down, releasing energy captured as ATP and reduced carriers such as NADH, and anabolism, in which small precursors are assembled into macromolecules using that energy. Metabolic pathways are sequences of enzyme-catalysed steps that are carefully regulated. Feedback inhibition, in which an end product blocks an early enzyme, and hormonal signals adjust the flux through each pathway to meet the cell's needs. The balance between the two halves keeps energy supply matched to demand.
Key ideas: The sum of anabolic (building, uses energy) and catabolic (breaking down, releases energy) reactions. Catabolism of glucose is coupled to making ATP, and anabolism uses ATP and NADPH. Pathways are sequences of enzyme steps with regulation by feedback inhibition and by hormones.
Common mistakes and connections: Mistake: calling a pathway spontaneous overall because ATP is made; individual steps may be uphill and are driven by coupling. Another is thinking anabolic pathways are exact reversals of catabolic ones; they use different enzymes at key steps. Links to thermodynamics free energy and enzymes.
Share of resting metabolic energy used by organs. Continuous catabolic pathways supply the ATP for this steady anabolic and transport work. The interactive lesson shows this as a live animation or chart.
Glycolysis is a catabolic pathway, while building proteins from amino acids is anabolic.
All chemical reactions in living organisms, divided into catabolism and anabolism.
Metabolism is a intermediate topic in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry. It builds on the vocabulary of beginner topics in this area.
Study these earlier topics in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry first: Genetic Code, PCR, CRISPR.
The next topics in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry are ATP and Glycolysis.
Yes. The interactive lesson includes a self-check question on Metabolism, and the Biochemistry, Environment & Industry quiz draws on every topic in this area.
Metabolism is topic 31 of 127 in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry.
Browse all 127 topics in Biochemistry, Environment & Industry