métabolique

Métabolique is the French adjective associated with metabolism, the set of biochemical processes that sustain life. In biology, metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions within cells that convert nutrients into energy and the building blocks needed for growth, repair, and maintenance. It includes two major components: catabolism, which breaks down molecules to release energy, and anabolism, which synthesizes complex molecules from smaller units.

Metabolic activity proceeds through interconnected pathways. Core energy production involves glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, which transfer energy via carriers such as ATP. Other pathways govern the metabolism of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleotides, and cofactors. Metabolic processes are distributed across cellular compartments, notably mitochondria, cytosol, and endoplasmic reticulum, and are coordinated by enzymes and regulatory proteins.

Regulation of metabolism hinges on enzyme activity, substrate availability, and hormonal signals. Allosteric control, feedback inhibition, and changes in gene expression adjust flux through pathways. Hormones such as insulin, glucagon, thyroid hormones, and glucocorticoids influence metabolic state, as do circadian rhythms, nutritional status, and temperature.

Clinical relevance varies with metabolic function. Abnormal metabolism underlies conditions such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, thyroid disorders, and various inherited metabolic diseases. Concepts like basal metabolic rate describe energy expenditure at rest, while metabolic testing and panels assist in diagnosis and management.

Historically, metabolism has been central to physiology and biochemistry since early calorimetry and the work of researchers who mapped energy-yielding pathways, contributing to a comprehensive framework of how organisms obtain and use energy.