Metabolism

Metabolism is the means by which the body derives energy and synthesizes the other molecules it needs from the fats, carbohydrates and proteins we eat as food, by enzymatic reactions helped by minerals and vitamins.

What is Anabolism?

Anabolism is the process by which the body utilizes the energy released by catabolism to synthesize complex molecules. These complex molecules are then utilized to form cellular structures that are formed from small and simple precursors that act as building blocks.

Science of Metabolism

Metabolism Key Biochemicals

Metabolism Control

Metabolism Energy Transformations

Science of Metabolism

An Overview of Nucleotide Metabolism

Metabolism Evolution

What is Metabolism?

What are Coenzymes?

Gibbs Free Energy and Metabolism

Metabolism Thermodynamics

See more featured articles »

What are Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Enzymes?

Metabolism History

Metabolism Investigation and Manipulation

Xenobiotics and Redox Metabolism

Metabolism Catabolism

Latest Metabolism News and Research

PRDM16 regulates the balance between proliferation and maturation in human cardiomyocytes

Understanding how heart muscle cells stop dividing and acquire the characteristics needed to sustain lifelong cardiac function remains one of the greatest challenges in cardiovascular biology.

7 Aug 2026

Thinning cancer cells' sugar coating could expose tumors to immune attack

Like spies evading detection through being masters of disguise, many cancer cells are adorned with a copious coat of sugar-derived molecules that throws the proverbial hounds of our immune systems off the scent.

7 Aug 2026

Fruit fly gut cells track hunger using internal cell viscosity

Researchers led by Sa Kan Yoo at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) in Japan have discovered that the natural turnover of gut cells in the fruit fly depends on how much food the flies get, rather than any specific nutrient.

7 Aug 2026

Exhausted T cells balance graft tolerance and infection risk

A comprehensive new review examines the complex role of T cell exhaustion in organ transplantation, highlighting how this dysfunctional immune state can both promote graft tolerance and create vulnerabilities to infection and malignancy.

7 Aug 2026

Metabolic stress triggers long-lasting immune system changes in diabetes patients

A growing understanding of trained immunity, a form of long-lasting immune system adaptation, is reshaping how scientists view diabetes and its many complications.

7 Aug 2026

New research highlights carbohydrate role in early human brain development

Fruit, honey and other naturally sweet foods may have helped fuel the evolution of the human brain, according to new research from the University of Sydney and the University of Glasgow.

7 Aug 2026

Genetic analysis of 1 million people points to FNIP1 as a promising metabolic target

Mega-scale exome sequencing of 1,032,116 people identified 59 independent genes linked to the TG:HDL ratio, including 44 rare-coding associations not detected in the previous largest analysis. Ultra-rare FNIP1 loss-of-function variants were associated with favorable fat distribution, lower liver fat and glycemia, and around 60% lower odds of a composite cardiometabolic disease outcome.

7 Aug 2026

D-serine promotes gastric cancer growth by suppressing tumor immunity

Researchers from Keio University have found that D-serine increases the growth of gastric cancer by creating an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory tumor microenvironment.

6 Aug 2026

Multi-omics research uncovers new therapeutic targets for Fabry disease

A comprehensive review is shedding new light on Fabry disease, a rare inherited disorder that can progressively damage multiple organs and significantly affect quality of life.

6 Aug 2026

Ferroptosis-based therapy shows promise for advanced prostate cancer treatment

A recent review explores the rapidly expanding field of ferroptosis-based therapy for prostate cancer, presenting ferroptosis as a promising strategy to overcome resistance in advanced and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

6 Aug 2026

Wearable sensor technology detects physical patterns linked to mental distress

Researchers have shown that measurements taken from a person's fingertip could help identify physical patterns associated with stress, anxiety and depression.

6 Aug 2026

Ion channel TPC1 identified as key regulator of iron homeostasis

Researchers have deciphered the role of an ion channel in iron homeostasis, opening up new possibilities for treating iron metabolism disorders.

6 Aug 2026

Genetic changes in zebrafish reveal new pathways for back pain

Neck and back pain could be caused by changes in gene activity that trigger the breakdown of the spine's natural shock absorbers, new research suggests.

6 Aug 2026

First-trimester protein intake linked to lower odds of small-for-gestational-age birth

A secondary analysis of 7,067 nulliparous participants found that first-trimester protein intake of 0.8 to less than 1.1 g/kg/day was associated with 22% lower adjusted odds of delivering an SGA infant than intake of at least 1.1 g/kg/day. The association was exploratory, with no dose-response pattern and no confirmation in sensitivity analyses.

6 Aug 2026

New research highlights hidden metabolic risks in non-obese HIV patients

A new UC San Francisco study helps explain why people with HIV remain at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes despite effective suppression of the virus with modern medications.

6 Aug 2026

New review highlights FOXA2's role in glucose regulation pathways

A newly published review highlights the pivotal role of FOXA2, a key transcription factor, in coordinating pancreatic development, maintaining islet cell identity, and regulating glucose homeostasis.

6 Aug 2026

Hypothyroidism linked to higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea

According to a study conducted in Brazil by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) with participants from the São Paulo Epidemiological Sleep Study (EPISONO 2018), people with hypothyroidism experience a higher frequency and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

5 Aug 2026