24/01/2026
Metabolism is the way in which substances are metabolized in the body. It is a set of biochemical reactions that occur in the cells of organisms to keep them alive. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, to renew their structures, and to respond to changes in their environment. Metabolic processes, for the purpose of easier study and understanding, are divided into two categories: catabolism - the breakdown (oxidation) of organic matter, in order to obtain energy, through the process of cellular respiration, and anabolism - the synthesis of the body's own components, such as proteins and nucleic acids, at the expense of the energy released during catabolism.
The chemical reactions of metabolism are organized into metabolic pathways, in which a certain chemical substance is transformed into a new substance, through a series of steps, each of which involves an enzyme. Enzymes play a key role in metabolism, as they allow the occurrence of desired reactions that require energy that would not occur independently. This is done by paralleling them with energy-releasing reactions. Because enzymes act as catalysts, they enable reactions to proceed quickly and efficiently. Enzymes also allow the regulation of metabolic pathways, depending on changes in the cell environment or on signals from other cells.
An organism’s metabolism determines which substances are nutritious and which are toxic to it. For example, some prokaryotes use hydrogen sulfide as a nutrient, while this gas is toxic to animals. The rate of metabolism, called the basal metabolic rate, affects the organism’s nutrient needs.
A remarkable feature of metabolism is the similarity of the main metabolic pathways and components even in completely different organisms. For example, the group of carboxylic acids, well-known as an intermediate in the Krebs cycle, is present in all organisms – from the single-celled bacteria Escherichia coli to large animals such as elephants. These similarities in metabolism are likely due to the high efficiency of these pathways and their early emergence in the course of evolution.