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What are the Different Metabolic Processes?

Kathryn Pless
Kathryn Pless

Metabolic processes are sequences of biochemical reactions that take place within living cells to maintain life. They can be divided into two main types. Catabolic processes, or pathways, involve the breakdown of complex molecules from food into smaller units that can be used as building blocks for new molecules or to provide energy. Anabolic pathways involve the use of energy to build new chemicals that become components of cells. These reactions are made possible by a number of organic catalysts known as enzymes.

Together, the two types of metabolic processes allow the transformation of the raw materials, or nutrients, that are taken in by an organism into tissue. One compound, common to all cellular life, is essential to these transformations. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is used to store energy obtained from nutrients, such as carbohydrates, and to release energy when it is required for the building of new molecules.

Catabolic Processes

Anabolic processes include the muscle contractions that provide movement in animals.
Anabolic processes include the muscle contractions that provide movement in animals.

Some organisms, such as green plants, make their own food from inorganic materials, while others, such as animals, consume organic materials to obtain their nutrition. The food consumed by animals can be broken down into three main types — carbohydrates, lipids (fats and oils), and proteins. Digestion involves catabolic processes that break these down into simpler components. For example, relatively complex carbohydrates, such as polysaccharides and disaccharides are broken down into glucose, and proteins are broken down into amino acids. These simpler compounds may be used by anabolic processes to build new materials, or they may be further broken down to provide energy.

Catabolic processes are metabolic processes that break down food in the body to create new molecules or provide energy.
Catabolic processes are metabolic processes that break down food in the body to create new molecules or provide energy.

Cellular respiration is the process by which the carbohydrate glucose (C6H12O6) is broken down into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), producing energy that is stored in ATP. The procedure involves oxidation, and where there is atmospheric oxygen available it is used in what is known as aerobic respiration. This is the process that takes place in animals, plants and some microorganisms. The overall reaction can be summarized as

C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O

but the process takes place in a number of stages, and the details are quite complex.

DNA is constructed from nucleotides in a type of metabolic process known as anabolic.
DNA is constructed from nucleotides in a type of metabolic process known as anabolic.

In conditions where no free oxygen is present, anaerobic respiration takes place. This is found only in certain microorganisms that live in soil, decaying organic matter, under the sea, deep underground, and in the intestines of animals. These organisms use alternatives such as nitrates, sulfates, fumarate, and even sulfur in place of free oxygen. Anaerobic respiration is much less efficient than the aerobic process, and produces much less ATP, but early in the Earth’s history — before there was any free oxygen in the atmosphere — this was the only form of respiration possible.

Anabaolic processes use the food broken down by catabolic processes, but if more is broken down than is used, it can cause fat to build up in the body.
Anabaolic processes use the food broken down by catabolic processes, but if more is broken down than is used, it can cause fat to build up in the body.

In animals, lipids are also oxidized to carbon dioxide and water, but the first few steps are different. The chemistry of organisms takes place in a water-based environment, but fats and oils do not mix with water. The first step is to emulsify these substances, which means converting them into a form that will mix with water, in the same way that detergents can help clean up oil spills. This is done by soap-like substances contained in bile released by the gall bladder into the small intestine. The lipids are then broken down into fatty acids and glycerol, which can be absorbed through the intestines, and which can then undergo oxidation reactions similar to those performed on carbohydrates.

Cells are powered by ATP, which is mostly synthesized by mitochondria.
Cells are powered by ATP, which is mostly synthesized by mitochondria.

Proteins are very large, complex molecules, made up of building blocks known as amino acids. They are metabolized by various reactions that split them up into their amino acids, which can be absorbed, and then used within cells. Generally, proteins are not used to provide energy, but instead the amino acids are utilized to manufacture new proteins to build tissue and muscle. In cases where no carbohydrate or fat is available in the diet, and the body has used up its fat reserves, proteins may be used to generate energy, by oxidation of their amino acids. In these cases, the body may start breaking down muscle proteins.

Anabolic Processes

Also known as biosynthesis, these are reactions that use up the energy stored in ATP by catabolic processes. They include the building of proteins from amino acids and the construction of DNA from nucleotides. In animals, the muscle contractions that power movement can also be included, as these require the use of stored energy. In plants, the synthesis of glucose from carbon dioxide and water through photosynthesis is another anabolic pathway.

Metabolic Processes and Body Weight

The energy obtained from food by catabolism may be used straight away, by anabolic processes, but if it is not used, much of it is stored as fat. The amount of energy that can be extracted from a food can be measured in calories. Similarly, the amount used up by various forms of exercise can also be measured this way. If consistently more calories are consumed than are used, fat will build up, resulting in weight gain. Conversely, if more calories are used up than are consumed, the body will obtain energy by using its fat reserves, losing weight.

Discussion Comments

croydon

@indigomoth - As long as people make sure they really study cellular metabolism and listen to the latest scientific advice. I once heard someone say they refused to drink water while exercising because it forced the body to burn more fat in order to create water.

It's true, the body does create water while burning fat, but it doesn't create more water than you'd use up while exercising. That kind of pseudo-science can be very dangerous, especially when wielded by desperate people.

indigomoth

@browncoat - It's not as simple as that though. Yes, the basic metabolic pathways are the same for everyone, and maybe the term 'metabolism' is misused sometimes, but there are ways to make your body burn more energy and fat than it normally would, which is what people mean when they say they are trying to 'raise their metabolism'.

Building up your muscles, for example, because muscles burn more energy than other kinds of cells.

Most of the time I think that a fad metabolic diet is going to be fairly useless in terms of actually doing anything to your metabolism, but understanding how it works properly can help people to get a better understanding of nutrition and the way the body works.

browncoat

People tend to think of the term metabolism as being solely related to weight loss and gain. Well, as you can see, it is related, but the term becomes so misused that it's almost meaningless.

In science, metabolism simply means the biological conversion of something into energy for the organism.

And dieters should take that definition to heart, because it doesn't allow excuses, like 'I have a slow metabolism', to cloud up the fact that you can't put on as weight anything that you haven't eaten. If you measure calories in and calories expended and calories converted to fat, the metabolic processes in the body are going to be the same for everyone. The only difference is in the number of calories that are taken in and the number that are converted to fat.

Rather than trying all kinds of ways to 'raise your metabolism' just accept it as a normal process and try to make sure you don't eat too much and exercise enough.

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    • Anabolic processes include the muscle contractions that provide movement in animals.
      By: Syda Productions
      Anabolic processes include the muscle contractions that provide movement in animals.
    • Catabolic processes are metabolic processes that break down food in the body to create new molecules or provide energy.
      By: Monkey Business
      Catabolic processes are metabolic processes that break down food in the body to create new molecules or provide energy.
    • DNA is constructed from nucleotides in a type of metabolic process known as anabolic.
      By: Monika Wisniewska
      DNA is constructed from nucleotides in a type of metabolic process known as anabolic.
    • Anabaolic processes use the food broken down by catabolic processes, but if more is broken down than is used, it can cause fat to build up in the body.
      By: Valentina R.
      Anabaolic processes use the food broken down by catabolic processes, but if more is broken down than is used, it can cause fat to build up in the body.
    • Cells are powered by ATP, which is mostly synthesized by mitochondria.
      By: Mopic
      Cells are powered by ATP, which is mostly synthesized by mitochondria.