Biochemistry
Ammonia
Compiled By Simon Mwangi
Edition: 2024/25
, Science | Biochemistry I of V pages
1. What does the removal of an amino group of amino acid create?
NH3
- a-keto acid
2. Can amino acids be kept in a storage form?
No
3. What is the first step of amino acid breakdown?
Removal of nitrogen by transamination
4. What is ammonia converted to in the liver?
Urea
5. What is the amino group passed to in the first step of amino acid breakdown?
a-ketoglutarate
- Creating glutamate
6. What does the amino acid become when an amino group is removed?
a-keto acid
7. What is the function of aminotransferases?
Transfer nitrogen from amino acids to glutamate
8. What do aminotransferases require as a cofactor?
B6
9. Give to examples of aminotransferases which may also be used as liver function tests?
ALT - Alanine aminotransferase
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
10. What does AST take an amino acid from and what does it give it to to yield?
AST takes an amino group from aspartate and transfers it to a-ketoglutarate to create Glutamate
11. What does aspartate become after it has been deaminated by AST?
Oxaloacetate
12. What are the 2 methods by which nitrogen can be transferred from glutamate to liver for excretion in urea
Glutamine synthesis
2. Alanine cycle
13. What amino acid transfers Nitrogen to the liver for excretion?
Glutamine
14. What enzyme converts glutamate to glutamine?
Glutamate synthetase
- Adds another N from ammonia
Biochemistry 2024/25 Edition
Ammonia
Compiled By Simon Mwangi
Edition: 2024/25
, Science | Biochemistry I of V pages
1. What does the removal of an amino group of amino acid create?
NH3
- a-keto acid
2. Can amino acids be kept in a storage form?
No
3. What is the first step of amino acid breakdown?
Removal of nitrogen by transamination
4. What is ammonia converted to in the liver?
Urea
5. What is the amino group passed to in the first step of amino acid breakdown?
a-ketoglutarate
- Creating glutamate
6. What does the amino acid become when an amino group is removed?
a-keto acid
7. What is the function of aminotransferases?
Transfer nitrogen from amino acids to glutamate
8. What do aminotransferases require as a cofactor?
B6
9. Give to examples of aminotransferases which may also be used as liver function tests?
ALT - Alanine aminotransferase
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
10. What does AST take an amino acid from and what does it give it to to yield?
AST takes an amino group from aspartate and transfers it to a-ketoglutarate to create Glutamate
11. What does aspartate become after it has been deaminated by AST?
Oxaloacetate
12. What are the 2 methods by which nitrogen can be transferred from glutamate to liver for excretion in urea
Glutamine synthesis
2. Alanine cycle
13. What amino acid transfers Nitrogen to the liver for excretion?
Glutamine
14. What enzyme converts glutamate to glutamine?
Glutamate synthetase
- Adds another N from ammonia
Biochemistry 2024/25 Edition
