Protein synthesis is considered an anabolic process. Anabolism refers to the metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units, a process that often requires energy input. In the case of protein synthesis, cells create proteins by linking together amino acids in a specific order dictated by genetic information.
The process begins with transcription, where the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA then travels to the ribosome, where it is translated into a specific sequence of amino acids, forming a polypeptide chain. The formation of these peptide bonds and the assembly of complex protein structures represent the building of larger, more complex molecules, characteristic of anabolic processes.
In contrast, catabolic processes involve the breakdown of molecules into smaller units, releasing energy in the process. Since protein synthesis involves constructing proteins from amino acids, it falls firmly into the anabolic category.