Metabolism - Anabolism and Catabolism

What is metabolism?

Metabolism can be described as all the chemical reactions involved in an organism for the sustainability of life. Metabolism is the sum of these two things - Anabolism and Catabolism. Now you might be wondering well what are these two things. So, let us know about anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism refers to processes that build up molecules. So, an anabolic reaction would be like a synthesis reaction. Catabolism refers to the process of breaking down molecules, so this would typically the decomposition reactions. 

So, let's say if you are converting small molecules into large molecules that will be an example of an anabolic process. Now the reverse is true for catabolism. If you take a single large molecule and break it down into many small molecules that will be a catabolic process. So, let me give you an example of an anabolic reaction.  When small glucose molecules combine and make a large molecule this is an example of an anabolic reaction. So, glucose is a monomer and when they combined in many glucose units to make a polymer this would be called a polysaccharide. So, in the case of glucose, many small molecules binding together to form a large molecule so that would be an anabolic process. Anabolic processes typically require energy and because they require energy to make it work this is an example of an endergonic reaction. So, anabolic processes typically use up energy so they are endergonic processes, they typically require Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to make them work. Now, this is an example of a dehydration synthesis reaction. To make this polymer water is going to be released and anytime there is a synthesis reaction it is going to be an anabolic reaction. 

Now let's talk about catabolic reactions it is simply the reverse of anabolic reactions. So, let's say we have disaccharide sucrose, sucrose is composed of glucose and fructose and it requires water to break this molecule into its components glucose and fructose. So, this will be an example of a catabolic reaction because here a large molecule breaking down into smaller molecules. Catabolic reactions typically include hydrolysis reactions as in this case which is a type of decomposition reaction. Most hydrolysis reactions typically release energy and so this would be an exergonic process. So, catabolic reactions are associated with exergonic reactions.

I will discuss the following processes, are they catabolic or anabolic, let's find out 

Cellular respiration 

Cellular respiration involves converting sugars like glucose and reacting with oxygen to make carbon dioxide and water. This reaction is not balanced but it releases energy but when there is one glucose molecule reacting it with six oxygen molecules that will be a balanced reaction and it will make six carbon dioxide molecules and six water molecules. So, notice that here a large molecule is breaking down into many small molecules plus the fact that it releases the energy it is exergonic so these factors tell us that cellular respiration is a catabolic process because it involves the breakdown of a large molecule into many small molecules.

Converting amino acids into protein

Now, conversion amino acids into proteins. Amino acids are the monomers of proteins so in this case, many small amino acids combine to form polypeptide or protein. Here many small molecules are getting together and forming a large molecule either a polypeptide chain or a protein. So that would be an anabolic process.

Glycolysis

Glycolysis is anabolic or catabolic, the word "lysis" tells that it is catabolic because "lysis" means breaking down something. In glycolysis, a large molecule of glucose is broken down to produce two molecules of pyruvate or lactate depending on the availability of oxygen. So, here a large mole is producing smaller molecules so this is an example of a catabolic process.

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the reverse of cellular respiration. Here carbon dioxide, water, and light energy are being used to and produces glucose and oxygen gas. So, here many small molecules are building into a larger molecule. So, that will be an example of an anabolic process.

Converting nucleic acids into nucleotides

Now, conversion nucleic acids into nucleotides. Now what you need to know is that nucleic acid is the polymer of nucleotides. So a nucleic acids like DNA  or RNA, it is a very large molecule and when it breaks into individual nucleotides these are small molecules so anytime it goes from a polymer to a  monomer that is a catabolic process.

So, that is how you can determine if a  process is anabolic or catabolic.

How to boost metabolism - You can try these 8 tips 

• Drinking adequate amounts of water may speed up your metabolic processes.
• Increase protein content in your diet as it causes the highest rise in the Thermic Effect of Food (TEF). Carbohydrates increase your metabolic rate by 5-10% and fat by 0-3%, whereas protein increases it by 15–30%.
• Doing a high-intensity workout burns your fat and increases the metabolic process.
• Coconut oil can be used in place of cooking fats. Cooking fats contain long-chain fatty acids whereas coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acid that increases metabolism.
• Instead of sitting at the desk all day try to stand up more, because long-term sitting burns low amounts of and increases your body weight.
• Drink Oolong Tea or Green Tea as it has been that it increases your metabolic processes by 4-5%.
• Include Peppers in your diet as they contain capsaicin, a substance capable of boosting your metabolism.
• Researchers found that drinking coffee can boost metabolic processes by 3–11% as it contains caffeine.