How does biochemistry help in understanding metabolism?

Biochemistry is essential for understanding metabolism, which is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms to maintain life.

How biochemistry helps:

1. Identifying biomolecules involved:
   • Biochemistry studies carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, which are the main molecules used and produced in metabolic reactions.
2. Understanding metabolic pathways:
   • Biochemistry explains step-by-step chemical reactions in pathways like:
     • Glycolysis (breakdown of glucose for energy)
     • Krebs cycle (energy production)
     • Fatty acid metabolism
   • Shows how enzymes control each step.
3. Energy flow:
   • Biochemistry reveals how energy is stored and released in molecules like ATP, NADH, and FADH₂.
4. Regulation of metabolism:
   • Studies how hormones (like insulin and glucagon) and feedback mechanisms control metabolic reactions.
5. Understanding metabolic disorders:
   • Helps explain diseases caused by enzyme defects or pathway imbalances, such as diabetes, phenylketonuria, and gout.

In short:
Biochemistry allows us to understand, map, and regulate metabolic reactions, showing how the body produces energy, builds molecules, and maintains homeostasis.