Chapter 16.1, Problem 3A

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Metabolism is one of the most crucial life processes. It involves catabolism, which is the breakdown of molecules. Carbohydrates are broken down into simpler molecules like glucose is in turn used to produce energy or ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules.

Fats are broken down to fatty acids and proteins into amino acids. Fatty acids can be further broken down into energy giving molecules like acetyl CoA (coenzyme A). Amino acids can be with broken down by deamination to remove their amino group and the remaining molecules are known as residue, which can be used somewhere else.