Carbohydrate metabolism

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Carbohydrate metabolism denotes the various biochemical processes responsible for the formation, breakdown and interconversion of carbohydrates in living organisms. It includes:

• Carbon fixation, whereby CO₂ is reduced to carbohydrate.
• Glycolysis - the breakdown of the glucose molecule in order to obtain ATP
• the Pentose phosphate pathway, which acts in the conversion of hexoses into pentoses and in NADPH regeneration.
• Glycogenesis - the conversion of excess glucose into glycogen in order to prevent excessive osmotic pressure buildup inside the cell
• Glycogenolysis - the breakdown of glycogen into glucose, in order to provide a steady level of glucose supply for glucose-dependent tissues.
• Gluconeogenesis - de novo synthesis of glucose molecules from simple organic compounds

[edit] See also