Anabolism

From ArticleWorld

Anabolism involves the construction of larger molecules as a part of the metabolic process. Metabolic processes can be classified according to two major systems regardless of whether they are at a cellular, organ or organism level. These two processes are opposite to each other and are called anabolism and catabolism.

Anabolism versus catabolism

Anabolic processes produce growth, an increase in body size and involve the synthesis of complex molecules from their simple monomers. Catabolic processes in comparison break down more complex molecules into their smaller units. The larger biomolecules such as proteins are degraded into their smaller monomeric units such as amino acids.

Function of these processes

The monomers are utilized in cells to construct polymeric units in an anabolic process and also to dismantle them to simple metabolites such as urea in a catabolic process. The catabolic processes involved in the breakdown of complex units are oxidation processes that produce energy. This energy is partially conserved in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and this is the compound used to run almost every energy-requiring process in cells via a hydrolysis reaction.

Control

In cells the processes of anabolism and catabolism do not occur simultaneously as this is counterproductive. Hormones are the main signals that stimulate or arrest these processes. Many hormones have been classified as anabolic or catabolic to this end. Some anabolic hormones identified include the growth hormone, insulin and testosterone. Some catabolic hormones include cortisol, adrenalin and cytokines.