Metabolism Overview

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to metabolism, including definitions of terms and processes essential for understanding metabolic pathways.

Metabolism

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms, divided into anabolism (building up) and catabolism (breaking down).

Anabolism

The metabolic process that builds larger molecules from smaller ones, requiring energy.

Catabolism

The metabolic process that breaks down larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in all living organisms.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, yielding energy and NADH.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes and other molecules that transfer electrons through a membrane to create a proton gradient, ultimately producing ATP.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The metabolic pathway in which ATP is formed from the oxidation of NADH and FADH2 in the electron transport chain.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates glucose levels in the blood by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells.

Glucagon

A hormone that raises blood glucose levels by promoting the breakdown of glycogen in the liver.

Lipogenesis

The metabolic process of synthesizing fatty acids from glucose or other substrates, leading to triglyceride formation.

Glycogenesis

The process of converting glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver and muscles.

Gluconeogenesis

The metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates.

Metabolic States

Two primary states of metabolism: absorptive state (anabolism dominates) and post-absorptive state (catabolism dominates).

Ketogenesis

The production of ketone bodies from fatty acids, typically occurring in the liver.

Lipolysis

The breakdown of triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids for energy.

Protein Synthesis

The process by which cells build proteins from amino acids, often involving transcription and translation.