2. Definition of catabolism
Explanation of catabolism
Examples of catabolism
3. Catabolism is the set of metabolic
pathways that breaks
down molecules into smaller units
to release energy
4. Catabolism breaks down large molecules (such as
polysacchrieds, lipids,nucleic acids and proteins) into
smaller units (such as monosacchreids, fatty
acids, nucleotides, and amino acids, respectively).
5. The purpose of the catabolic reactions is to provide the energy and
components needed by anabolic reactions.
Microbes simply secrete digestive enzymes into their surroundings,
while animals only secrete these enzymes from specialized cells in
their guts.
Fats are catabolised by hydrolysis to free fatty acids and glycerol.
Amino acids are either used to synthesise proteins and other
biomolecules, or oxidized to urea and carbon dioxide as a source of
energy.
Carbohydrates are usually taken into cells once they have been
digested into monosaccharides and then processed inside the cell
via glycolysis
6.
7. Protein catabolism is the breakdown of proteins into amino acids and
simple derivative compounds, for transport into the cell through
the plasma membranes and ultimately for the polymerisation into new
proteins via the use of ribonucleic acids (RNA) and ribosomes. Protein
catabolism, which is the breakdown of macromolecules, is essentially a
digestion process
The amino acids produced by catabolism may be directly recycled,
used to make new amino acids, or undergo amino acids catabolism to
be converted to other compounds via the Krebs cycle.