Anabolism is the process by which the body utilizes the energy released by catabolism to synthesize complex molecules. These complex molecules are then utilized to form cellular structures that are formed from small and simple precursors that act as building blocks.
Stages of anabolism
There are three basic stages of anabolism.
Sources of energy for anabolic processes
Different species of organisms depend on different sources of energy. Autotrophs such as plants can construct the complex organic molecules in cells such as polysaccharides and proteins from simple molecules like carbon dioxide and water using sunlight as energy.
Heterotrophs, on the other hand, require a source of more complex substances, such as monosaccharides and amino acids, to produce these complex molecules. Photoautotrophs and photoheterotrophs obtain energy from light while chemoautotrophs and chemoheterotrophs obtain energy from inorganic oxidation reactions.
Stages of anabolism
There are three basic stages of anabolism.
- Stage 1 involves production of precursors such as amino acids, monosaccharides, isoprenoids and nucleotides.
- Stage 2 involves activation of these precursors into reactive forms using energy from ATP
- Stage 3 involves the assembly of these precursors into complex molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids and nucleic acids.
Sources of energy for anabolic processes
Different species of organisms depend on different sources of energy. Autotrophs such as plants can construct the complex organic molecules in cells such as polysaccharides and proteins from simple molecules like carbon dioxide and water using sunlight as energy.
Heterotrophs, on the other hand, require a source of more complex substances, such as monosaccharides and amino acids, to produce these complex molecules. Photoautotrophs and photoheterotrophs obtain energy from light while chemoautotrophs and chemoheterotrophs obtain energy from inorganic oxidation reactions.