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Breakdown and Utilization of Sugars and Fats definitions

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  • Metabolism
    Sum of all chemical reactions in a cell, encompassing both energy-releasing and energy-consuming processes.
  • Catabolism
    Set of reactions that break down macromolecules, releasing energy stored in chemical bonds.
  • Anabolism
    Set of reactions that synthesize macromolecules, requiring an input of energy.
  • Metabolic Pathway
    Series of sequential reactions where each product becomes the substrate for the next step.
  • Metabolite
    Intermediate compound formed during the transformation of a substrate to a final product in metabolism.
  • Glucose
    Primary sugar molecule used by cells to harvest energy efficiently through controlled breakdown.
  • Cellular Respiration
    Process that extracts energy from sugar bonds to produce ATP, typically using oxygen.
  • ATP
    Main energy currency of the cell, generated through the breakdown of sugars and other fuels.
  • Digestion
    Initial stage of catabolism where complex food molecules are broken into smaller subunits.
  • Glycolysis
    Cytosolic process converting glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP and electron carriers.
  • Pyruvate
    Three-carbon molecule produced from glucose during glycolysis, serving as a key metabolic intermediate.
  • Oxidative Phosphorylation
    Mitochondrial process producing the majority of cellular ATP, requiring oxygen and generating CO2 and water.
  • Aerobic Respiration
    Energy-yielding pathway using oxygen to fully break down sugars, resulting in high ATP output.
  • Anaerobic Respiration
    Energy-yielding pathway operating without oxygen, resulting in lower ATP production.
  • Fermentation
    Oxygen-independent process converting pyruvate to other products, yielding minimal energy.