1. The roles of metabolism Metabolism is a highly coordinated and directed cell activity in which many multienzyme systems cooperate to accomplish four functions O to obtain chemical energy by capturing solar energy or by degrading energy-rich nutrients from the environment (2)to convert nutrient molecules into the cells own characteristic molecules, including macromolecular precursors, (3)to polymerize monomeric precursors into proteins nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides, and other cell components; (4) to synthesize and degrade biomolecules required in specialized cellular functions1. The Roles of metabolism Metabolism is a highly coordinated and directed cell activity, in which many multienzyme systems cooperate to accomplish four functions: (l) to obtain chemical energy by capturing solar energy or by degrading energy-rich nutrients from the environment; (2) to convert nutrient molecules into the cell's own characteristic molecules, including macromolecular precursors; (3) to polymerize monomeric precursors into proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides, and other cell components; (4) to synthesize and degrade biomolecules required in specialized cellular functions