Question

Describe the metabolic reactions of the body, and provide a brief description of the carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism.

Answer 1

Metabolic reactions are the sum of all the chemical reactions occuring inside the body of an individual.

They are of three types

Anabolism - it is contructive process in which new substances are formed by using energy .

Catabolism - in this process substances are broken down by using enzymes to liberate energy.

Amphibolic pathways - in which both anabolic and catabolic processes occurs simultaneously.

1 Carbohydrates metabolism -

Inside the cell carbohydrates plays a significant role in providing energy as well as storage of food.

Catabolism -In the cell glucose broken down to produce energy , water and Co₂ .

Anabolism -In liver cells excess glucose is converted into glycogen which is a

stored food for body.

Protein metabolism - it represents the process of synthesis and breakdown of proteins.

Anabolism - Inside the cytoplasm of cell protein molecules are synthesised by the process of translation using mRNA.

Catabolism - Dietary proteins are converted into amino acids by digestive enzymes.

Lipid metabolism - it is the process of formation and breakdown of lipids.

Anabolism - in this process lipids are synthesised in cells by using fatty acids and glycerols. Example - formation of plasma membrane.

Catabolism - in this process stored fat of the body is used to produce energy.