What Is Anabolism?

Metabolism consists of two processes: anabolism and catabolism.

Anabolism allows your body to grow more cells while maintaining current tissue.

Anabolism requires energy from adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Metabolism is defined as the sum of all physical and chemical changes that take place within an organism; all energy and material transformations that occur within living cells. This requires two fundamental processes, anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism, also called constructive metabolism, is the cellular method of synthesis that allows your body to grow new cells and maintain all of the tissues. Anabolism has also been called biosynthesis, and in this process the body can create complex molecules needed from simpler ones, similiar to making larger objects using building blocks. The anabolic reactions use a few simple chemicals and molecules to synthesize a large variety of finished end products. Anabolism results in the increase of cell size or intricacy, and sometimes both will happen. The processes of anabolism result in proteins, peptides, lipids, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids being produced. These encompass all of the living cell materials, like chromosomes and cell membranes, plus any specialized specific cell type processes, including antibodies, neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones.

Anabolism requires energy, and this energy comes from a molecule that is rich in energy called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. Between the second and third molecule of phosphate on ATP, exists a chemical bond that is high in energy. When the chemical bond is broken then energy is released. The result of this energy release is the ATP is turned into adenosine diphosphate, also known as ADP.

When an anabolic reaction occurs, the high energy chemical bond of ATP is switched to a substrate, a molecule that has been affected by an enzyme, so that it can be energized and prepared for the molecule’s later usage as a raw material so a larger molecule can be synthesized. ATP is not the only molecule used in anabolic processes. Some of these processes may also need hydrogen atoms that are high in energy as well. NADPH is the molecule which supplies these high energy hydrogen atoms.

Anabolism is the process required for your body to build up muscle, while the opposite process of catabolism will break down types of molecules so that they can be eliminated. These two processes, building up and tearing down, are what makes up your metabolism, and if your body uses more energy than it takes in, weight loss will result. On the other hand, if you take in more energy than your body uses, in the form of calories eaten and calories burned, you will gain weight. Anabolism is also responsible for speeding up the number of calories burned for each activity, so that you require more energy to move and do things, as well as during periods of inactivity and sleep.

Anabolism and catabolism are both vital processes that make up your metabolism. Your body is constantly in a state of tearing down and rebuilding at the same time, and anabolism can be used to raise your calorie burning and help you lose weight and keep it off. Both of these processes are important and occur at the same time in the cell, but each process uses a different pathway and has a different chemical reaction rate that is controlled independently of each other.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.