KE7001 Biochemistry Lectures

Protein turnover and amino acid metabolism

Reading material: Stryer, Chapters 23-24

Abstract: Most bacteria and plants synthesise all of their amino acids. Some bacteria can convert N₂ from the atmosphere into ammonia by the process termed nitrogen fixation. Mammals on the other hand can only synthesise about half of the twenty common amino acids. The rest of amino acids must be obtained via the diet. The catabolism of the amino acids includes removal of the ammonium group, usually by transamination with alpha-ketoglutarate. Ammonium is converted to urea in the urea cycle. The carbon chains in amino acids can be converted to several different intermediary metabolites used in catabolic and anabolic reactions.

Key concepts:
Tansamination
Urea cycle
Glutamate
Alpha-ketoglutarate
Pyridoxal phosphate, PLP
Glucogenic
Ketogenic

Links:
Stryer: Chapter 23 Living figures (Use Netscape/Chime)
Stryer: Chapter 24 Living figures (Use Netscape/Chime)

To lecture index