Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

MCBM Exam 4 > Amino Acid Synthesis > Flashcards

Amino Acid Synthesis Flashcards

1
Q

What are essential amino acids?

A

Amino acids that our bodies don’t synthesize

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How many essential amino acids are there?

A

10

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 10 essential amino acids?

A

Phe, Trp, Lys, His, Arg, Ile, Leu, Val, Thr, Met

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Argenine is produced as a byproduct of what cycle?

A

Urea cycle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why is argenine insufficient in infants?

A

When there is a lot of tissue growth, the urea cycle shuts down

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Which amino acid can be recycled?

A

Methionine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which non-essential amino acids come from the same glycolytic pathway precursor?

A

Ser
Cys
Gly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How is asparagine made?

A

By adding ammonia to aspartate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What three amino acids can be made by transamination reactions?

A

Ala
Asp
Glu

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What transaminates to alanine?

A

Pyruvate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What tranaminates to aspartate?

A

Oxaloacetate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What transaminates to glutamine?

A

Alpha-ketoglutarate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Proline is broken down to form what?

A

Glutamine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Tyrosine is made from the breakdown of which amino acid?

A

Phenylalanine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The reaction that derives Met from homocys requires which cofactor?

A

B12 (cobalamin)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 2 important cofactors in the recycling of methionine?

A

Folate

B12 (cobalamin)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

SAM is important in what reaction?

A

The recycling of methionine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Elevated serum levels of ___ is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

A

Homocysteine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Pyruvate + Glu = ?

A

Alanine + alpha-ketoglutarate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Oxaloacetate + Glu = ?

A

Asp + alpha-ketoglutarate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Alpha-ketoglutarate + Asp = ?

A

Glu + oxaloacetate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How many carbons is Ala?

A

3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How many carbons is Asp?

A

4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How many carbons is Glu?

A

5

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Asparagine (Asn) synthesis uses what as a nitrogen donor?
Glutamine (Gln)
26
What amino acid is the main repository for NH3?
Glutamine (Gln)
27
Tyrosine is made by the hydroxylation of what?
Phenylalanine
28
What catalyzes the formation of tyrosine?
Phenylalanine hydroxylase
29
Tetrahydrobiopterin is required by which enzyme? In which reaction?
Required by phenylalanine hydroxylase | Involved in the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to form tyrosine
30
Phenylalanine hydroxylase is deficient in what?
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
31
What is glutathione?
A compound of 3 amino acids | Important antioxidant
32
Acid production in the stomach is initiated by what?
Histamine
33
Histamine is secreted by which cells?
Mast cells
34
What is the neurotransmitter that is endocytosed?
Serotonin
35
How do SSRI's potentiate the effect of serotonin?
By blocking the endocytosis reaction, keeping the neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft longer
36
What degrades AcH from the synaptic cleft?
Acetylcholinesterase
37
How are norepinephrine and dopamine removed from the synaptic cleft?
Via monoamine oxidase
38
AcH is derived from which amino acid?
Serine
39
To which type of receptors does AcH bind?
Muscarinic receptors
40
What does botox do?
Blocks AcH secretion
41
What does cognex do?
Slows acetylcholinesterase (potentiating the effect of AcH)
42
What does Sarin do?
Blocks AcHase
43
What does atropine do?
Blocks the AcH receptor (reverses the effects of sarin)
44
GABA is derived from which amino acid?
Glutamate
45
Glu is ___ to form GABA.
Decarboxylated
46
What is the enzyme needed to form GABA from Glu?
Glutamate decarboxylase
47
What is GABA?
An inhibitory neurotransmitter
48
How does GABA act as an inhibitory neurotransmitter?
Increases K+ permeability of post-synaptic neuron
49
Huntington's chorea stems from a deficiency in what?
GABA
50
What things come from Tyr?
``` Thyroid hormones T3 & T4 Dopa Dopamine Norepinephrine Epinephrine Melanin ```
51
What is the overall charge on DOPA?
0
52
DOPA can be shunted off to ultimately be turned into what?
Melanin
53
Levels of dopamine in Parkinson's disease are usually ___.
Low
54
Serotonin is derived from which amino acid?
Tryptophan
55
How is serotonin formed from Tryptophan?
Tryptophan is hydroxylated and then decarboxylated
56
What does serotonin do?
Vasoconstrictor in brain | Regulator of mood
57
Melatonin is converted from ___ in the pineal gland.
Serotonin
58
What is the precursor to nicotinate (niacin)? (also the ring portion of NAD and NADP)
Tryptophan
59
If you have a niacin deficiency, what can be used as a supplement?
Tryptophan
60
Histamine is derived from what?
Histidine
61
What occurs to histidine to get histamine?
Decarboxylation
62
What secretes histamine?
Mast cells Lung mucosa Gastric mucosa
63
Is histamine a vasodilator or constrictor?
Vasodilator
64
What is an H2 receptor antagonist that is similar to histamine?
Tagamet
65
Nitric Oxide is derived from which amino acid?
Arginine
66
What 3 amino acids combine to form glutathione?
Glu, Cys, Gly
67
What 3 amino acids combine to create creatine phsophate?
Arg, Gly, Met
68
In the reaction to make creatine phosphate, how does methionine contribute a methyl group?
As SAM - this is the major use of SAM
69
Why is creatine phosphate important?
It allows muscle and cardiac to store phosphate with increasing ATP levels
70
What does increased excretion of creatinine indicate?
Kidney damage
71
Polyamines are made from ___.
Ornithine
72
What does carnitine carry?
Acyl group
73
Carnitine transfers an acyl group from where to where?
Cytoplasm to CoA in mitochondria
74
Carnitine is made from what?
Trimethyllysine
75
Where is heme primarily synthesized?
In the liver and bone marrow
76
What is a disease of heme synthesis called?
A porphyria (vampires)

MCBM Exam 4 (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions