Metabolism is a general term for the processes by which nutrients are absorbed, converted, broken down in the body, converted into energy, and/or eliminated from the body.
This triggers a vast number of chemical reactions. These processes form the very foundation of life itself.
They enable cells to grow and reproduce, to maintain the structures that make up the cells, and to adapt to changes in their environment.
Many of these chemical reactions occur in well-organized chains, in which a molecule is converted from one form to another in several steps, with a specific enzyme catalyzing each step.
Enzymes play a central role in these processes because they enable cells to produce the energy they need to function.
The processes can be divided into:
- Anabolism – the synthesis of large molecules
- Catabolism – the breakdown of molecules