What is Difference Between Catabolism And Anabolism?
Difference Between Catabolism And Anabolism is that It should be noted that, metabolism is the set of chemical and biological processes that occur continuously in the living cells of an organism. This allows cells to carry out their main activities, such as reproduction, growth, maintenance of their structures and the response to the stimuli they receive.
The functioning of the metabolism is due to two different processes but which are coupled and dependent on each other, they are anabolism and catabolism. However, although these processes are closely related, they are different processes with different functional characteristics, which will be described below.
Anabolism
Briefly, anabolism is one of the two parts into which the metabolism is divided, which implies a synthesis reaction of more complex organic molecules (biomolecules) from another simpler, organic or inorganic ones with energy requirements (reactions endergónicos) and reducing power.
Among the main functions of anabolism we can mention:
- Growth: thanks to its decisive presence at the time of the formation of cellular components and tissues.
- Energy storage: it is done through the chemical bonds that are generated in this process.
Anabolism consists of three stages, in the first one there are precursors such as amino acids, monosaccharides, among others. In the second, these precursors are activated using energy from ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) and in the third stage, more complex molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and nucleic acids are produced.
Catabolism
Fundamentally, catabolism is one of the two parts in which the metabolism is divided, representing an organic process by which different elements are reduced to their simplest forms. Thus, catabolism is a set of metabolic processes in which the substances and elements that the body or organism takes to assimilate them are disarmed and simplified, transforming them into energy that can be used by organs and tissues.
During catabolism, energy is released at the time of the transformation of substances, therefore, it is an oxidative process in which complex biomolecules are transformed into simpler ones and then store the energy in ATP molecules (Adenosine Triphosphate).
The catabolism consists of three stages, wherein the first the large organic nutrient molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides or lipids are degraded to amino acids, monosaccharides, and fatty acids, respectively. In the second stage, these small molecules are taken to the cells and converted into even simpler molecules, such as acetyl groups oxidized to water and carbon dioxide by aerobic organisms, releasing energy that is retained by reducing coenzymes. Finally, in the third stage, the coenzymes are oxidized in the electron transport chain.
As can be evidenced, there are several differences found between anabolism and catabolism, the two fundamental processes of metabolism. In summary, we have to:
- Anabolism is a synthesis reaction while catabolism is a degradative reaction.
- Energy is released during catabolism while energy is consumed in anabolism.
- Anabolism is a reduction reaction while catabolism is an oxidative process.
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