Metabolism and Enzymes

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the fundamentals of metabolism, catabolism, anabolism, and enzymes as described in the lecture notes.

Metabolism

All chemical reactions that occur in a living organism, involving the conversion of food into energy in the form of $ATP$, and the formation of carbohydrate, protein, lipid and nucleic acid.

Catabolism

The process of breaking down complex substances into simple substances, a reaction that releases energy.

Anabolism

The process of synthesising complex molecules from simple molecules, a reaction that uses or absorbs energy.

Cellular respiration

A catabolic process involving the breakdown of glucose to generate energy.

Photosynthesis

An anabolic process involving the formation of glucose.

Catabolic reaction general formula

$$A \text{ (substrate)} \rightarrow B + C \text{ (products)}$$

Anabolic reaction general formula

$$A + B \text{ (substrate)} \rightarrow C \text{ (product)}$$

Enzyme

An organic catalyst produced by living cells, made up of proteins, that speeds up biochemical reactions.

$$ATP$$

The form of energy produced during the metabolic conversion of food.