Metabolism: Anabolism & Catabolism (learn it so you can’t forget)

38 topics across 6 chapters

Chapter 1

The big picture: what “metabolism” means

Cells as factories: why metabolism exists (survive, move, repair, grow)

Vocabulary you must know: enzyme, pathway, substrate, product

Energy basics: exergonic vs endergonic (what “releases” vs “requires” energy means)

Where metabolism happens: cytosol vs mitochondria (simple map)

Chapter 2

Catabolism: breaking molecules down (and releasing energy)

Catabolism in one sentence: break big → small + capture energy

Carb catabolism overview: glucose → glycolysis → TCA (big picture only)

Fat catabolism overview: triglycerides → fatty acids → beta-oxidation (big picture only)

Protein catabolism overview: proteins → amino acids → reused or burned

What catabolism produces: ATP + “charged carriers” (NADH/FADH2) + building fragments

Oxidative phosphorylation (ETC): where lots of ATP is made (high-level only)

Chapter 3

Anabolism: building molecules up (and spending energy)

Anabolism in one sentence: build small → big by spending energy

Carb anabolism examples: glycogen building + making glucose when needed (overview)

Fat anabolism examples: fatty acid synthesis + storing fat (overview)

Protein anabolism examples: building proteins for muscle, enzymes, and repair (overview)

What anabolism needs: ATP + NADPH + raw materials (building blocks)

Chapter 4

Energy & coupling: how cells “pay” for building and “get paid” for breaking

ATP: the “energy coin” (spend it to build, earn it by breaking)

NADH vs NADPH: same idea, different jobs (energy extraction vs building power)

↗ Energy basics: exergonic vs endergonic (what “releases” vs “requires” energy means) (see Chapter 1)

Energy coupling: how cells use “easy” reactions to drive “hard” reactions

↗ Oxidative phosphorylation (ETC): where lots of ATP is made (high-level only) (see Chapter 2)

Chapter 5

Regulation: how your body chooses catabolism vs anabolism

Hormones as mode-switches: insulin (build/store) vs glucagon/epinephrine (release/burn)

Body states: fed vs fasting vs exercise (which pathways turn on, and why)

Fast control: feedback inhibition and allosteric regulation (thermostat idea)

Tissue roles: liver vs muscle vs fat vs brain (who stores, who burns, who needs glucose)

Chapter 6

Make it unforgettable: stories, mnemonics, and self-tests

The unforgettable story: the LEGO city (demolish for bricks & cash vs build with bricks & spending)

Mnemonic set you’ll keep: CATabolism Cuts; ANabolism Adds

5 anchor examples: label each as anabolic or catabolic (and explain why in 1 line)

Practice system: turn the idea into long-term memory (spaced repetition + recall)

4 subtopics

Daily 2-minute drill: say the definitions + 2 examples without looking

Make 10 flashcards: prompts that force recall (not recognition)

Teach-back script: explain to a friend in 30 seconds (record yourself once)

Quick quiz: classify 12 scenarios as anabolic/catabolic (food, fasting, lifting, healing)

Common confusions: “fat burning” vs “weight loss”, and why both processes can happen in a day