Anabolism

Anabolism the set of metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units.

[1]
 These reactions require energy, known also as an endergonic process.[2] Anabolism is
the building-up aspect of metabolism, whereas catabolism is the breaking-down aspect.
Anabolism is usually synonymous with biosynthesis.

Contents

 1Pathway
o 1.1Energy source
o 1.2Cofactors
o 1.3Substrates
 2Functions
o 2.1Anabolic hormones
o 2.2Photosynthetic carbohydrate synthesis
o 2.3Amino acid biosynthesis
o 2.4Glycogen storage
o 2.5Gluconeogenesis
 3Regulation
 4Etymology
 5References

Pathway[edit]
Polymerization, an anabolic pathway used to build macromolecules such as nucleic
acids, proteins, and polysaccharides, uses condensation reactions to join monomers.
[3]
 Macromolecules are created from smaller molecules using enzymes and cofactors.

Use of ATP to drive the endergonic process of anabolism.

Energy source[edit]
Anabolism is powered by catabolism, where large molecules are broken down into
smaller parts and then used up in cellular respiration. Many anabolic processes are
powered by the cleavage of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).[4] Anabolism usually
involves reduction and decreases entropy, making it unfavorable without energy input.
[5]
 The starting materials, called the precursor molecules, are joined together using
the chemical energy made available from hydrolyzing ATP, reducing the
cofactors NAD+, NADP+, and FAD, or performing other favorable side reactions.
[6]
 Occasionally it can also be driven by entropy without energy input, in cases like the
formation of the phospholipid bilayer of a cell, where hydrophobic interactions aggregate
the molecules.[7]
Cofactors[edit]
The reducing agents NADH, NADPH, and FADH2,[8] as well as metal ions,[3] act as cofactors
at various steps in anabolic pathways. NADH, NADPH, and FADH 2 act as electron
carriers, while charged metal ions within enzymes stabilize charged functional
groups on substrates.
Substrates[edit]
Substrates for anabolism are mostly intermediates taken from catabolic pathways
during periods of high energy charge in the cell.[9]

Functions[edit]
Anabolic processes build organs and tissues. These processes produce growth and
differentiation of cells and increase in body size, a process that involves synthesis of
complex molecules. Examples of anabolic processes include the growth and
mineralization of bone and increases in muscle mass.
Anabolic hormones[edit]
Endocrinologists have traditionally classified hormones as anabolic or catabolic,
depending on which part of metabolism they stimulate. The classic anabolic hormones
are the anabolic steroids, which stimulate protein synthesis and muscle growth,
and insulin.
Photosynthetic carbohydrate synthesis[edit]
Photosynthetic carbohydrate synthesis in plants and certain bacteria is an anabolic
process that produces glucose, cellulose, starch, lipids, and proteins from CO2.[5] It uses
the energy produced from the light-driven reactions of photosynthesis, and creates the
precursors to these large molecules via carbon assimilation in the photosynthetic
carbon reduction cycle, a.k.a. the Calvin cycle.[9]

Amino acid biosynthesis from intermediates of glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.

Amino acid biosynthesis[edit]

All amino acids are formed from intermediates in the catabolic processes of glycolysis,
the citric acid cycle, or the pentose phosphate pathway. From glycolysis, glucose 6-
phosphate is a precursor for histidine; 3-phosphoglycerate is a precursor
for glycine and cysteine; phosphoenol pyruvate, combined with the 3-phosphoglycerate-
derivative erythrose 4-phosphate, forms tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine;
and pyruvate is a precursor for alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine. From the citric
acid cycle, α-ketoglutarate is converted into glutamate and
subsequently glutamine, proline, and arginine; and oxaloacetate is converted
into aspartate and subsequently asparagine, methionine, threonine, and lysine.[9]
Glycogen storage[edit]
During periods of high blood sugar, glucose 6-phosphate from glycolysis is diverted to
the glycogen-storing pathway. It is changed to glucose-1-
phosphate by phosphoglucomutase and then to UDP-glucose by UTP--glucose-1-
phosphate uridylyltransferase. Glycogen synthase adds this UDP-glucose to a glycogen
chain.[9]
Gluconeogenesis[edit]
Glucagon is traditionally a catabolic hormone, but also stimulates the anabolic process
of gluconeogenesis by the liver, and to a lesser extent the kidney cortex and intestines,
during starvation to prevent low blood sugar.[8] It is the process of converting pyruvate
into glucose. Pyruvate can come from the breakdown of glucose, lactate, amino acids,
or glycerol.[10] The gluconeogenesis pathway has many reversible enzymatic processes
in common with glycolysis, but it is not the process of glycolysis in reverse. It uses
different irreversible enzymes to ensure the overall pathway runs in one direction only. [10]

Regulation[edit]
Anabolism operates with separate enzymes from catalysis, which undergo irreversible
steps at some point in their pathways. This allows the cell to regulate the rate of
production and prevent an infinite loop, also known as a futile cycle, from forming with
catabolism.[9]
The balance between anabolism and catabolism is sensitive to ADP and ATP,
otherwise known as the energy charge of the cell. High amounts of ATP cause cells to
favor the anabolic pathway and slow catabolic activity, while excess ADP slows
anabolism and favors catabolism.[9] These pathways are also regulated by circadian
rhythms, with processes such as glycolysis fluctuating to match an animal's normal
periods of activity throughout the day.[1

Anabolic means "building up" and catabolic means "breaking down." Anabolism and catabolism
are the two sides of metabolism—building up and breaking down components to maintain the
function of the body and the balance of energy stores.

Weight training seeks to maximize anabolic muscle building and minimize loss of muscle
through catabolism. When you hear anabolic used in terms such as anabolic state and anabolic
steroids, it is referring to the muscle-building processes and the hormones that promote them.
Likewise, when you hear the word catabolic, it will mean processes that lead to losing the
muscles you work hard to build.

Anabolic metabolism (anabolism) builds new compounds and tissues, including muscles. The
body uses building blocks such as proteins and amino acids in this process and burns energy to
do it. In weight training, anabolic metabolism builds and strengthens muscles and bones.

Catabolic metabolism (catabolism) breaks down complex compounds and body tissues. This
releases energy. The body uses catabolism when a source of energy is needed. Sustained high-
intensity exercise, such as running a marathon, can result in the catabolism of muscle as the body
needs to break down protein for an energy source. Exercising hard for a long period of time
without replacing energy with food and drink can lead to the breaking down of muscle for fuel.

Hormones and Steroids That Affect

Anabolism and Catabolism
Hormones are produced naturally in the body to regulate metabolism, including the use and
storage of energy and building of muscle and other tissue.

Anabolic hormones include growth hormone, IGF1 (insulin growth factor), insulin,

testosterone, and estrogen.

Anabolic steroids are natural or synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone, the male
sex hormone. Anabolic steroids are often banned in sports because they are performance-
enhancing drugs. As prescription drugs, they are illegal to obtain and use without a medical need.
Anabolic steroids have unpleasant and dangerous side effects, which is why they are only
available by prescription and require medical supervision.1 They are used to build more muscle
in a shorter period of time. Some legal dietary supplements, such as DHEA, are building blocks
of steroid hormones and might be taken in an attempt to build muscle artificially. Bodybuilders
who engage in "natural bodybuilding" don't use prohibited drugs to promote muscle growth.

Catabolic hormones include cortisol, glucagon, adrenaline, and other catecholamines. These

hormones may not affect all tissues the same; they can have catabolic effects in making energy
available, but not break down muscle.

Anabolic State for Muscle Building

Weight trainers want to exercise while in an anabolic state, with enough nutrients in their system
to fuel their workout and provide the building blocks of protein for muscle growth. They follow
pre-workout nutrition regimens. During and after workouts they take in food and drink that will
provide enough nutrients to maintain the anabolic state. They design workouts to challenge their
muscles, so the body responds by building more muscle. Sleep is another important component
of the anabolic state, allowing the body to build and repair muscle more effectively.

Anabolic Product Labeling

You may see nutritional products and supplements labeled as either anabolic or anti-catabolic.

 Anabolic products provide carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids that they claim will
be absorbed quickly and available to the muscles to build more muscles.
  Anti-catabolic labels might be put on food and supplements that take longer to digest, so
they provide the needed nutrients over a longer period of time.

Have you ever wondered what happens to the food that you eat after it enters
your body? As you probably know, food not only tastes good, but it also provides
nutrition for all of the different components of your body - bones, muscles, brain
function, and much more!

A salad is chock full of nutritious goodies, but your body can't do much with the
food as it is. So as food enters your body, it gets broken down into molecular
components so that you can actually use the nutrition these molecules provide.
All of the physical and chemical activities in your body that convert or use
energy are called metabolism. These include things like breathing, digesting
food, and circulating blood.

But metabolism is a pretty broad term, and it includes all of the chemical

activities in your body. We can think of metabolism in two separate forms:
catabolism and anabolism. Catabolism involves all of the metabolic processes
that tear down biomolecules, while anabolism is all of the metabolic processes
that build biomolecules.

One way to remember which is which is to think of 'catastrophe' for catabolism

and 'steroids' for anabolism. During a catastrophe like an earthquake, large
buildings and other structures fall apart, just like molecules get broken apart
during catabolic reactions. People use anabolic steroids to build up their
muscles, just like anabolic reactions 'build' biomolecules.

Catabolism Breaks Down Molecules

Catabolic reactions are reactions that involve the breakdown of biomolecules,
but what exactly does this mean? When you eat food, you chew it to make it
easier to swallow, right? Catabolic reactions are similar in that they 'chew' up
biomolecules to make them easier to utilize.

Digestion is a catabolic activity. Here, you begin with large food molecules, and
then water is used to break the bonds in those molecules. These smaller
molecules are then sent off to the cells in your body to participate in cellular
respiration, which is a process that converts biochemical energy to ATP, a very
high-energy molecule.

Cellular respiration is also a catabolic process because it breaks the small

molecules from digestion into even smaller ones as ATP is created. These are
both very important processes, because ATP is what your cells use