Metabolism can be broadly divided into two categories:
* Anabolism: This refers to the building-up aspects of metabolism. Anabolic reactions use energy to construct complex molecules from simpler ones. For example, the synthesis of proteins from amino acids.
* Catabolism: This refers to the breaking-down aspects of metabolism. Catabolic reactions release energy by breaking down complex molecules into simpler ones. For example, the breakdown of glucose to produce energy.
These two processes are interconnected and work together to maintain the life of the cell and the organism.
