Amino Acid Metabolism

Question 1

Release of N, which can be used to make things like:

Answer 1

• purines and pyrimidines (based for DNA and RNA)
• heme (for cytochrome and hemoglobin)
• make Urea (excretory form of N)

Question 2

which a.a. are branched chains? What is their function?

Answer 2

• valine
• leucine
• isoleucine

Function: to transport nitrogen from the liver to other tissues

Question 3

which amino acids are essential in infants but not in adults

Answer 3

• histidine and arginine
  infants do not yet make sufficient amounts

Question 4

which amino acids are essential amino acids

Answer 4

Any Help in Learning These Little Molecules Proves Truly Valuable
arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, lysine, methionine, phenolyalaline, tryptophan, valine

Question 5

what is a complete protein?

Answer 5

contains a sufficient amount of EAA to support health
- in general, come from animal products

Question 6

which amino acids contain sulphur?

Answer 6

methionine and cysteine

Question 7

which amino acids can be phosphorylated?

Answer 7

serine, threonine and tyrosine

Question 8

which amino acid is an alpha helix breaker?

Answer 8

proline

Question 9

what are the three ways nitrogen can be incorporated into an amino acid?

Answer 9

1. transaminiation (indirect)
2. transamidation (indirect)
3. direct incorporation

Question 10

involves transferring an amino group from an amino acid to an alpha ketoacid

Answer 10

transamination

Question 11

what is the keto acid we produce from alanine?

Answer 11

pyruvate

Question 12

what is the keto acid we produce from glutamate?

Answer 12

alpha-ketoglutarate

Question 13

what is the keto acid we produce from aspartate?

Answer 13

oxaloacetate

Question 14

transaminations are which amino acids typically occur in the liver?

Answer 14

alanine and aspartate (ALT and AST)

Question 15

involves transferring an amido group from an amino acid to an alpha ketoacid

Answer 15

transamidation

Question 16

What is a direct way N is incorporated into an amino acid?

Answer 16

addition of N directly from ammonia
- can require a B3 coenzyme

Question 17

which amino acids are in the glutamate family?

Answer 17

1. Glutamine (add a nitrogenn)
2. Proline
3. Arginine

Question 18

what is the enzyme for Glu to Gln?

Answer 18

glutamine synthetase

Question 19

where does Gln go after converting from Glu?

Answer 19

To the liver for disposal via urea cycle

Question 20

which amino acids are in the Asparate family?

Answer 20

1. asparagine
2. lysine (plants only)
3. threonine to isoleucine (plants only)
4. methionine (plants only)

Question 21

which amino acids are in the pyruvate family?

Answer 21

alanine
valine
leucine

Question 22

which type of amino acids can the liver not break down? What can the liver do with these?

Answer 22

BCAA’s
liver CAN use them to make proteins
instead, they are broken down by extrahepatic tissue for energy
leucine, isoleucine, and valine

Question 23

which amino acids are in the serine family?

Answer 23

cysteine
glucine

Question 24

what coenzyme is used by serine to make glycine?

Answer 24

B9 (folic acid)
serine = CH2OH
- B9 picks up H and water is released

Question 25

when is folate used?

Answer 25

in one carbon transfers - ser to glycine - making purines and pyrimidines

Question 26

what is folate first converted to?

Answer 26

THF ex. MTHF - methyl THF, transfer methyl groups

Question 27

what is folate stored as?

Answer 27

MTHF - you need to be able to transfer the methyl group otherwise, it will be stuck in its methylated form

Question 28

what amino acids are in the aromatic family?

Answer 28

tryptophan tyrosine phenylalanine

Question 29

why is tyrosine non-essential?

Answer 29

we can make it from phenylalanine

Question 30

histamine functions include

Answer 30

gastric acid production allergic responses wakefulness (CNS effect)

Question 31

histidine can be ______ to histamine

Answer 31

decarboxylated

Question 32

what are the 2 deamination pathways?

Answer 32

1. glutamine synthetase - requires ATP 2. glucose-alanine cycle - alanine carries N and doesn't cost anything to make

Question 33

what starts the urea cycle

Answer 33

a combination of ornithine and carbamoyl phosphate to make citrulline

Question 34

how much ATP does it take to generate urea in the urea cycle?

Answer 34

4

Question 35

how much ATP do we need to detoxify each amino group?

Answer 35

2

Question 36

what is the storage group for carbs?

Answer 36

glycogen

Question 37

what is the storage group for fatty acids?

Answer 37

triglycerides

Question 38

why do we require essential amino acids on a daily basis?

Answer 38

no storage group - any extras will be broken down

Question 39

arginase is only found in the _____

Answer 39

liver

Question 40

how does the urea cycle connect to CAC?

Answer 40

via fumarate