Metabolism

Vale P, Matias, Mau

Metabolism

Is the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life, by which the body changes food and drink into energy. During this process, calories in food and drinks mix with oxygen to make the energy the body needs.

Categories:

Catabolism - the breakdown of molecules to obtain energy Anabolism - the synthesis of all compounds needed by the cells

Nutrition is the key to metabolism.

Stages:

Stage 1: Glycolysis for glucose, oxidation for fatty acids, or amino acid catabolism. Stage 2: Citric Acid Cycle (or Kreb cycle) Stage 3: Electron Transport Chain and ATP synthesis.

Foods supply carbohydrates in three forms: starch, sugar, and cellulose (fiber).

Types

- Heterotrophic metabolism is the biologic oxidation of organic compounds, such as glucose, to yield ATP and simpler organic (or inorganic) compounds - Autotrophy is a unique form of metabolism found only in bacteria. - Microbial metabolism is the means by which a microbe obtains the energy and nutrients (e.g. carbon) it needs to live and reproduce.