CATABOLISM
Catabolism (dissimilation, biodegradation) is the name for metabolic disintegration of complicated molecules (of food products, as a rule) into more simple ones. This process is accompanied by release of energy. A product of such disintegration is a catabolite. For a process of catabolism, participation of catabolic and accompanying enzymes is necessary. the process, which is opposite to catabolism, is called anabolism.