This study examines the molecular mechanisms of catabolism as the foundation of energy and plastic metabolism in the cell. Particular attention is given to the sequence of biochemical reactions that ensure the breakdown of complex organic compounds into simple metabolites. The oxidative pathways of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein degradation, as well as their interrelations within the overall metabolic system, are analyzed. It is demonstrated that catabolic processes play a crucial role in regulating the cell’s energy balance and maintaining homeostasis. The specific features of enzymatic control and intermolecular interactions determining the efficiency of catabolic reactions have been identified. The obtained results may serve as a theoretical basis for further research in the field of cellular biochemistry and metabolic regulation.

Catabolism, Acetyl-CoA, ATP, Energy

Yon-Kahn, J., & Hervé, G. (2010). Molecular and Cellular Enzymology. Springer. — Discusses molecular and cellular aspects of enzymology, essential for understanding catabolic reactions.

Da Poian, A. T., & Castanho, M. A. R. B. (2021). Integrative Human Biochemistry: A Textbook for Medical Biochemistry. Springer. — Includes sections on “catabolism of major biomolecules” and “energy conservation in metabolism.”

Spormann, A. M. (2023). Principles of Microbial Metabolism and Metabolic Ecology. Springer. — The chapter “Catabolism and Its Coupling to Anabolism” is devoted specifically to catabolic processes.

Yazaki, Y., & Mochizuki, S. (Eds.). (1993). Cellular Function and Metabolism. Springer. — Describes key metabolic processes such as ATP synthesis and hydrolysis.

Alberts, B., et al. (Eds.). (2014). Molecular Biology of the Cell. W. W. Norton & Company. — A standard reference for cellular and molecular biology.

Weiner, H., Crabb, D. W., & Flynn, T. G. (Eds.). (1993). Enzymology and Molecular Biology of Carbonyl Metabolism 4. Springer. — Provides detailed coverage of enzymatic mechanisms at the molecular level of catabolism.

Lancker, J. L. (1976). Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms in Disease: Bioenergetics, Cell Specificity, and Inborn Errors of Metabolism. Springer. — A foundational work on bioenergetics, relevant to ATP synthesis and catabolic mechanisms.

Ghukasyan, V., & Heikal, A. A. (Eds.). (2015). Natural Biomarkers for Cellular Metabolism: Biology, Techniques, and Applications. CRC Press. — Focuses on biomarkers, useful for understanding metabolic pathways.

Rath, P. C. (Ed.). (2020). Models, Molecules and Mechanisms in Biogerontology: Cellular Processes, Metabolism and Diseases. Springer. — Includes sections on metabolic and catabolic processes in the context of aging.

Tisdale, M. J. (n.d.). Biochemical Mechanisms of Cellular Catabolism. — A review dedicated to molecular mechanisms of cellular catabolism, particularly of proteins.

[Anonymous]. (n.d.). Amino Acid Catabolism: An Overlooked Area of Metabolism. — A review article exploring amino acid catabolism and its molecular aspects.

Jiang, X., et al. (2015). Autophagy in Cellular Metabolism and Cancer. Journal of Clinical Investigation. — Examines autophagy as a catabolic process and its role in cellular metabolism.

[Anonymous]. (2002). Central Mechanisms Involved with Catabolism. PubMed Review. — Discusses central neurohormonal mechanisms of catabolic regulation.

Liu, L., et al. (2025). GPER in Metabolic Homeostasis and Disease: Molecular Mechanisms, Nutritional Regulation, and Therapeutic Potential. Journal of Translational Medicine. — A recent study on molecular regulation of metabolism.

Zhu, K., et al. (2024). Tumor Metabolic Reprogramming and Ferroptosis: The Impact of Glucose, Protein, and Lipid Metabolism. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. — Expands the study of catabolism within the context of metabolic disorders and disease.

Ismoilova, D. Z. (2025). Biochemical Foundations of Energy Metabolism Pathologies. Development of Science, 2(10), 371–378.