metaboliche

Metaboliche, or metabolism, denotes the collection of chemical reactions that sustain life in cells and organisms. It converts nutrients into energy and molecular building blocks, enabling growth, maintenance, and adaptation. Metabolic activity is organized into interconnected pathways that respond to substrate availability and cellular energy status, and that are regulated in space and time within the organism.

Chemically, metabolism is divided into catabolism and anabolism. Catabolic pathways break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to harvest energy, producing ATP, NADH, and other reducing equivalents. Anabolic pathways use energy and precursor molecules to synthesize macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides, supporting cell structure, signaling, and reproduction.

Enzymes drive most metabolic reactions, often requiring cofactors and optimal conditions. Regulation occurs at multiple levels, including allosteric control, covalent modification, substrate availability, and hormonal signaling to maintain energy balance and biosynthesis according to the organism’s needs. Metabolic fluxes adapt to fasting, feeding, exercise, and stress, shaping organismal physiology.

Major metabolic themes include central energy metabolism with glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation in animals and many microbes; photosynthesis in plants and algae; and specialized routes in microbes and tissues. Metabolic biology also studies compartmentalization within cells, metabolic networks, and how genetic and environmental factors influence homeostasis.

Disruptions in metabolism underlie many diseases, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, inherited disorders like phenylketonuria, and mitochondrial dysfunctions. Understanding metaboliche integrates biochemistry, physiology, and systems biology to map networks, predict responses to diet and therapies, and improve health outcomes.