CATABOLIC PATHWAY Meaning and
Definition
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A catabolic pathway, also referred to as a catabolic process or catabolism, is a series of chemical reactions in living organisms that involve the breakdown of larger molecules into smaller components. It is an essential part of metabolism, which encompasses both anabolic and catabolic pathways.
In a catabolic pathway, complex organic molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, are broken down into simpler substances, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose, respectively. This breakdown process releases energy that can be utilized by the organism for various functions, including growth, movement, and maintenance of cellular processes.
Catabolic pathways involve a cascade of enzymatic reactions that progressively degrade the larger molecules into smaller units, with each step being catalyzed by specific enzymes. These enzymes break chemical bonds and release energy stored within the chemical structures. The released energy can be captured in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of cells, or other energy-rich molecules.
Catabolic pathways also produce byproducts, such as carbon dioxide, water, and waste materials, which are either excreted or utilized in other metabolic processes. Examples of catabolic pathways include glycolysis, which breaks down glucose to generate ATP, and the Krebs cycle (or citric acid cycle), which oxidizes carbon compounds to produce energy-rich molecules.
Overall, catabolic pathways play a vital role in breaking down complex molecules to provide the necessary energy and chemical building blocks for the functioning and survival of living organisms.
Common Misspellings for CATABOLIC PATHWAY
- xatabolic pathway
- vatabolic pathway
- fatabolic pathway
- databolic pathway
- cztabolic pathway
- cstabolic pathway
- cwtabolic pathway
- cqtabolic pathway
- carabolic pathway
- cafabolic pathway
- cagabolic pathway
- cayabolic pathway
- ca6abolic pathway
- ca5abolic pathway
- catzbolic pathway
- catsbolic pathway
- catwbolic pathway
- catqbolic pathway
- catavolic pathway
- catanolic pathway
Etymology of CATABOLIC PATHWAY
The word "catabolic" comes from the Greek word "kata", meaning "downward" or "apart", and "ballein", meaning "to throw". It was first used in English in the late 19th century to describe a destructive metabolic process.
The word "pathway" refers to a route or course taken by something, in this case, the sequence of chemical reactions involved in catabolism, the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler substances.
Therefore, the term "catabolic pathway" refers to the series of chemical reactions that occur in a living organism to break down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy in the process.
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