03 - Metabolism, Functional Groups & Linkages

Metabolism

The sum of all life-enabling chemical reactions in an organism—driven by enzymes, combining catabolism and anabolism—that collectively sustain life and facilitate otherwise unlikely biochemical processes.

Catabolism

Breakdown of large molecules into small ones

Anabolism

Creation of large molecules by connecting small ones

Functional Groups

Side chains that are reactive and enable metabolic reactions

Alcohol (hydroxyl)

(R-OH), hydrophilic (polar)

Ether

(R-O-R), formed from dehydration reactions

Ester

Ketone, hydrophilic (polar)

Aldehyde, hydrophilic (polar)

Carboxylic acid, hydrophilic (polar)

Amine, hydrophilic (polar)

Sulfhydryl, hydrophilic (polar), useful for IMFs and protein folding