Difference between anabolism and catabolism

Anabolism or biosynthesisas the name implies, is the Constructive Metabolism Phasewhich consists of the generation of complex organic molecules (such as carbohydrates, lipids, fats, proteins or nucleic acids) from other simple ones. Therefore, the Anabolism functions They are associated with maintenance, repair and tissue growth and energy storage.

Among its characteristics, it is worth mentioning that:

• The anabolic routes or routes that collect the chemical reactions of this process, are also known as divergent.
• These synthesis reactions are generally of reduction and endergon. What does this mean? That, on the one hand, the molecules or ions involved gain electrons, and that, on the other hand, so that they take place require an energy source, which is normally the ATP (Adenosine Tryphosphate), from catabolic phases.
• In this case, energy is consumed by the body.
• The process is similar in all cells.
• It can be autotrophic (as in the case of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis) or heterotroph (as with the gluklonogenes and glycogenogenesis, lipids and proteins), with lipids and proteins), differentiating both types in the origin of simple precursor molecules (amino acids, monosaccharides, nucleotides). If these molecules are formed from organic matter from other living beings we talk about heterotrophic anabolism; On the contrary, if they are synthesized based on their own organic matter and energy sources, the biosynthesis process is autotrophic.
• Hormones such as estrogen, insulin, growth hormone and testosterone participate.

As in every biological process it is possible to identify different phases, in this case, specifically there are 3 Stages of Anabolism:

1. First, the generation of precursors takes place, some of them being derived from the last phase of catabolism.
2. Second, these precursors are activated by ATP molecules.
3. Finally, the formation of complex molecules takes place.

Once the concept of anabolism was introduced, with the clues of the previous section, would you know what kind of reaction is photosynthesis, catabolic or anabolic? Continue to read this article because, then you will find some examples of Anabolism, briefly explained, which will completely clarify your doubts and answer the question asked.

Lipogenesis

It is the process by which, the excess energy that we incorporate through the diet, our body uses, through Acetyl COA, for the formation of fatty acids.

Glucogenogenesis

It consists of the production of glycogen from glucose-6-phosphate and takes place in liver and muscles. This process is similar to amilogenesis in vegetables (starch formation), unlike that, in this case, the energy source or activating molecule is the UTP (trifosphate uridine) and not the ATP.

Gluconeogenesis

Gluconeogenesis or neo -Glucogenesis is the process of glucose synthesis, based on precursors that are not carbohydrates and can become pyruvate or oxalaceate (for example: lactated, glycerol, various amino acids). It takes place mainly in liver (90%) and kidney (10%), which helps the brain and muscles to obtain the glucose necessary to meet their energy needs.

Photosynthesis, chemosynthesis

As we allowed to glimpse before, and responding to the previously raised issue, both types of processes are autotrophic anabolisms, which consist of simple organic organic molecules from other inorganic ones such as CO2, H2O or NH3. The difference that the photosynthesis keeps regarding chemosynthesis is that, the necessary energy is obtained from sunlight, instead of proceeding with redox reactions. We recommend you read this other article about what the process of photosynthesis and its importance is.

Catabolism or destructive metabolismOn the contrary, it consists of the transformation or degradation of large molecules of organic matter (carbohydrates, fats, proteins) in smaller ones (lactic acid, CO2, NH3). Among the Functions of catabolismit is worth mentioning, the degradation of organic nutrients and the obtaining of chemical energy from these same nutrients.

Some of the main characteristics to highlight are:

• The metabolic routes or routes are convergent, which implies that, based on many different substrates, at the end of the process there are only a few products.
• The reactions it includes are oxidant and exergonic; that is, in them, the molecules or ions involved lose electrons and the release of energy takes place.
• Adrenaline, cortisol, cytokines or glucagon, are examples of catabolic hormones.

As in anabolism, we can identify 3 Stages of catabolismin which:

1. First, the degradation of large and complex organic molecules in amino acids, monosaccharides and fatty acids takes place.
2. Then, the products of the first phase are transported to the cells in order to achieve greater degradation and, therefore, simpler molecules, in a process in which energy is released.
3. Finally, the oxidation of the coenzymes that participate in the electron transport chain is produced.

We continue to know this concept indicating some examples of catabolism:

Breathing and fermentation

Breathing and fermentation are two important and widely known catabolic processes that, despite consisting of obtaining energy from complex organic molecules and sharing a first phase of glycolysis, are significantly different.

Among other factors, they differ in the presence/absence of oxygen, being anaerobic fermentation against breathing that is aerobic; In the final electrons, being in fermentation an organic compound and in breathing an inorganic substance; And, above all, in that with fermentation a complete glucose degradation is not reached, while with breathing yes.

Krebs cycle

The Krebs cycle is another catabolic process, which configures one of the 4 stages of cellular respiration. Also called citric acid or tricarboxylic acid cycle it consists of the oxidation of carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids until obtaining as a final CO2 product.

Digestion

This process, as we know, implies the decomposition of organic nutrients that we ingest through the diet, in other simpler and easier components to use the body to meet food needs and, therefore, energy.

Glucogenolysis

Glycogenolysis, as indicated by the suffix -llisis (dissolution, rupture), is the metabolic route of glycogen degradation and, from which, glucose is obtained. In this process, the most important enzyme involved is phosphorylase glycogen.

Glycolysis

It is the set of chemical reactions that, being part of the digestion process, allows glucose degradation, obtaining some final or others, depending on the presence or absence of oxygen, being pyruvate or lactate, respectively.

The main difference that anabolism and catabolism keep is that, being two types of reactions that They complement each other And they occur at the same time to achieve a balance, They necessarily oppose. This is, as explained throughout the article, catabolism consists in the degradation of large organic molecules to obtain simpler ones; While, on the contrary, anabolism takes advantage of the energy released in catabolic processes to produce from simple more complex molecules.

According to all this and remembering the influence that all these metabolic reactions have on the growth of living beings, it is interesting to mention that according to Von Bertalanffy (their Growth model It is used a lot in marine studies to estimate the relationship between age and the stature of fish), organisms develop when anabolism surpasses catabolism, while its growth stops at the time when the magnitude of both processes is the same.

In the main image of the article you can see a Table of differences between anabolism and catabolism Summarized, but we also recommend seeing this video that is a summary about the difference and the relationship between Anabolism and Catabolism explained by a biologist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqkbdBVBQ7K

If you want to read more articles similar to Difference between anabolism and catabolismwe recommend that you enter our biology category.