Journal of Drug Metabolism & Toxicology
Open Access

Metabolic Reactions' Primary Roles in Human Life

Aldo Wessinger^{* *}Correspondence: Aldo Wessinger, Department of Toxicology, Princeton University, Princeton, USA, Email:

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Description

Organism metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that sustain life. Metabolism performs three primary functions: the process by which food's energy is converted into energy that can be used by cellular processes; the transformation of food into the components that go on to make proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and some carbs; as well as the removal of metabolic wastes. Organisms are able to grow, reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their surroundings thanks to these enzymecatalyzed reactions. The term "metabolism" can also refer to the total number of chemical reactions that take place in living things, like digestion and the movement of substances into and out of cells. In this case, the set of reactions in the cells that were just mentioned is called "intermediate" metabolism.

A chemical reaction is a process that changes a set of chemicals into another set. Traditionally, chemical reactions only change the positions of electrons in the forming and breaking of chemical bonds between atoms. They don't change the nuclei (or the elements in the mixture), so they can't be explained by a chemical equation. Nuclear chemistry is a subfield of chemistry that deals with the chemical reactions of radioactive and unstable elements that can result in both electronic and nuclear changes. Any living system that functions as an independent unit is considered an organism in biology. Cells make up every organism. The minimal functional unit of life is the foundation of the organism idea.

In physics, energy is the quantitative property that is transferred to a body or physical system, as evidenced by work and light and heat. According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can be transformed into a form but cannot be created or destroyed. Energy is a quantity that is conserved. Large biomolecules and macromolecules with one or more long chains of amino acid residues are the primary functions of proteins. Catalyzing metabolic reactions, replicating DNA, responding to stimuli, giving cells and organisms structure, and transporting molecules are just a few of the many roles that proteins play within organisms. The nucleotide sequence of a protein's genes determines its amino acid sequence, which typically results in the protein folding into a particular three-dimensional structure that determines its activity. Additionally, fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, and phospholipids are all members of the broader class of naturally occurring molecules known as lipids. Lipids are used in the food and cosmetic industries, as well as in nanotechnology, for their roles in energy storage, signaling, and cell membrane structure.

Biopolymers and macromolecules known as nucleic acids are necessary for all known forms of life. They are made up of nucleotides, which are monomers that are made up of three parts: a sugar with five carbons, a phosphate group, and a base with nitrogen. Deoxyribo-Nucleic Acid (DNA) and Ribo-Nucleic Acid (RNA) are the two main types of nucleic acids. The polymer is RNA if the sugar is ribose; the polymer is DNA if the sugar is the ribose derivative deoxyribose.

The resemblance of the fundamental metabolic pathways between vastly different species is a striking feature of metabolism. These similarities in metabolic pathways are likely due to their early appearance in evolutionary history, and their retention is likely due to their efficacy. For instance, the set of carboxylic acids that are best known as the intermediates in the citric acid cycle are present in all known organisms, being found in species as diverse as the unicellular bacterium Escherichia coli and huge multicellular organisms like elephants. Normal metabolism is disrupted in a number of diseases, including cancer, type II diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, the metabolism of cancer cells differs from that of normal cells. These differences can be used to identify therapeutic targets for cancer.