We will learn how a cell takes nutrients from the environment and uses them to produce energy and reducing power. This stored energy is then put to work making various cell structures - membranes, cell walls, proteins and nucleic acids. To start on the road to understanding metabolism, you first have to know what it means. So, some definitions. The sum total of all reactions which occur in a cell.
Metabolism consists of two types of processes catabolism and anabolism.
This definition is simplistic - not all energy generating processes in bacteria involve the break down of larger molecules. Anabolism Synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones to form cell structures, this requires energy and often reducing power. A short introduction into the important machinery in cellular processes comes next.