Metabolism related Antibody Products

To support metabolism research, Amerigo Scientific provides an extensive range of antibodies targeting different fields of metabolism. Each antibody undergoes a strict quality control process to guarantee consistent lot-to-lot performance and reliable, reproducible results.

Metabolism is an intricate network of chemical reactions happening within living organisms. It encompasses all the chemical processes involved in maintaining life, including energy production, growth, repair, and elimination of waste products. Metabolism plays a crucial role in converting nutrients into energy, building and breaking down molecules, and regulating various physiological functions. It ensures the proper functioning of cells, tissues, and organs, allowing organisms to carry out essential processes like respiration, digestion, and reproduction. Overall, metabolism is of utmost importance as it sustains life by providing the necessary energy and resources for cellular activities and maintaining homeostasis.

Catabolism

Catabolism is the metabolic process of breaking down complex molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy in the form of ATP. The primary purpose of catabolism is to provide cells with the necessary energy to perform vital functions and to generate building blocks for anabolic processes. Catabolism mainly includes the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, leading to the release of energy and byproducts.

There are three main stages of catabolism:

1) Digestion: Large macromolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken down into their smaller subunits (sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerol) outside the cells;
2) Incomplete Oxidation: These subunits are partially degraded, producing molecules like acetyl-CoA and a small amount of ATP;
3) Complete Oxidation: Acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle and electron transport chain, producing a substantial amount of ATP and releasing water and carbon dioxide.

Anabolism

Anabolism is the set of constructive metabolic processes to synthesize complex molecules using energy typically in the form of ATP. It is vital for growth, repair, and cellular maintenance. Anabolic processes involve the synthesis of macromolecules like nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Key characteristics of anabolism include energy consumption, synthesis of macromolecules, and contribution to cell and tissue development.

Anabolism involves three basic stages:

1) Precursor Production: Simple molecules like amino acids, nucleotides, and monosaccharides are produced;
2) Activation: These precursors are activated using energy, often forming reactive intermediates;
3) Assembly: The activated precursors are assembled into a complex.

Fig.1 The cellular metabolism process. Distributed under CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wiki, without modification.

Based on the in-depth study of compound metabolism, Amerigo Scientific launched related products in the following series of popular research fields.

• Mitochondrial metabolism refers to the biochemical processes occurring in the mitochondria, which is the powerhouse of cells. It includes the citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and β-oxidation of fatty acids. These processes generate ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell, by oxidizing nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
• Amino acid metabolism involves the synthesis and breakdown of amino acids, necessary for protein production, energy generation, and the formation of neurotransmitters and hormones. This process includes transamination, deamination, and the urea cycle, playing a key role in growth, repair, and various cellular functions.
• Nucleotide metabolism covers the creation and degradation of nucleotides, vital for DNA and RNA synthesis. It involves the de novo synthesis pathways and salvage pathways, which recycle nucleotides, ensuring proper genetic information storage, replication, and cellular energy transactions through compounds like ATP. Key processes include the formation of purine and pyrimidine bases, ribose sugars, and the assembly of nucleotides.
• Carbohydrate metabolism refers to the biochemical processes that govern the production, degradation, and conversion of carbohydrates in living organisms. Major pathways include the citric acid cycle, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is then used to produce ATP. This metabolism provides energy for cellular activities and maintains blood glucose levels.
• Drug metabolism involves the body's chemical alteration of pharmaceutical substances, mainly in the liver, including phases of oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis (Phase I), and conjugation reactions (Phase II). These transformations typically convert lipophilic compounds into more hydrophilic metabolites for easier excretion via urine or bile. Cytochrome P450 enzyme is critical in drug metabolism.
• Metabolic diseases are disorders that disrupt normal metabolism, often due to genetic defects in enzymes involved in metabolic pathways. Common examples include diabetes mellitus, phenylketonuria (PKU), and mitochondrial disorders. These diseases can lead to an accumulation or deficiency of specific metabolites, causing symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

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