Anabolism

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

This article is about anabolism and catabolism as types of metabolism. For steroids with anabolic properties, see Anabolic steroid.

Anabolism is the metabolic process that builds larger molecules from smaller ones. One way of categorizing metabolic processes, whether at the cellular, organ or organism level is as 'anabolic' or 'catabolic', which is the opposite.

Anabolic processes tend toward "building up" organs and tissues. These processes produce growth and differentiation of cells and increase in body size, a process that involves synthesis of complex molecules. Examples of anabolic processes include growth and mineralization of bone and increase of muscle mass.

Because it is counterproductive to have anabolic and catabolic processes occurring in cells simultaneously, there are many signals that switch on anabolic processes while switching off catabolic processes and vice versa. Most of the known signals are hormones and the molecules involved in metabolism itself. Endocrinologists have traditionally classified many of the hormones as anabolic or catabolic.

[edit] Classic Anabolic Hormones

• Growth hormone
• IGF1 and other insulin-like growth factors
• Insulin
• Testosterone
• Estrogen

Newer hormones associated with the balance of the catabolic and anabolic states include

• Orexin and Hypocretin (a hormone pair)
• Melatonin

[edit] See also

• Cell metabolism
• Anabolic steroid