Amino Acid Synthesis

Question 1

What kind of aa’s are essential?

Answer 1

Ones that we cannot synthesize ourselves

Question 2

What are the two pseudo-essential aa’s?

Answer 2

Arg - insufficient in infants

Met - can be recycled

Question 3

What two things do most Non-essential amino acids need?

Answer 3

NADPH and ATP

Question 4

What is considered a risk factor for CVD?

Answer 4

Elevated serum homocysteine levels

Question 5

What may result in elevated serum homocysteine levels?

Answer 5

Deficiencies in THF, B12 or B6

Question 6

What amino acids are synthesized by direct transaminations?

Answer 6

Ala from Pyr
Asp from OAA
Glu from alpha-KG

Question 7

How is proline synthesized?

Answer 7

By the reversal of Proline catabolization to Glu

Question 8

How is Tyrosine made?

Answer 8

By hydroxylation of phenylalanine catalyzed by phenylalanine hydroxylase

Question 9

What is Phenylalanine hydroxylase?

Answer 9

A mixed function oxidase

Question 10

Are neurotransmitters transient?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

Which NT’s are rapidly degraded or altered in the synaptic cleft?

Answer 11

ACh via Acetylcholinesterase
Norepinephrine via monoamine oxidase
Dopamine via monoamine oxidase

Question 12

What neurotransmitter get’s endocytosed?

Answer 12

Serotonin

Question 13

What is ACh derived from??

Answer 13

Serine

Question 14

What does botox do to ACh?

Answer 14

Blocks ACh secretion

Question 15

What does Cognex do to ACh?

Answer 15

Slows acetylcholinesterase

Question 16

What does Sarin do to ACh?

Answer 16

Blocks acetylcholinesterase

Question 17

What does Atropine do to ACh?

Answer 17

Blocks acetylcholine receptor

Question 18

What is GABA derived from?

Answer 18

Glutamate which is decarboxylated

Question 19

What type of NT is GABA and how does it act?

Answer 19

It is an inhibitory NT that acts by increasing K+ permeability of post-synaptic neuron

Question 20

In what cases is GABA decreased?

Answer 20

Huntington’s chorea

Epilepsy

Question 21

What increases GABA?

Answer 21

Valium
Librium
Alcohol

Question 22

What thyroid hormones come from Tyrosine?

Answer 22

T3

T4

Question 23

What NT’s/Hormones come from Tyrosine?

Answer 23

DOPA
Dopamin
Norepinephrine
Epinephrine

Question 24

What pigment compounds come from Tyrosine?

Answer 24

Melanin

Question 25

What is Serotonin derived from?

Answer 25

Tryptophan which is hydroxylated then decarboxylated

Question 26

How does Serotonin affect the body?

Answer 26

A potent vasoconstrictor in brain, platelets and mast cells | A major regulator of mood in the CNS

Question 27

What can Serotonin be converted into?

Answer 27

Melatonin in the pineal gland (Makes you sleepy)

Question 28

What increases serotonin levels?

Answer 28

SSRIs like Prozac and Zoloft

Question 29

What is tryptophan a precursor for?

Answer 29

Nicotinate (niacin), the ring portion of NAD and NADP

Question 30

What is Histamine derived from?

Answer 30

Histidine which is decarboxylated

Question 31

What is histamine secreted by?

Answer 31

Mast cells Lung Gastric Mucosa

Question 32

What's the function of histamine?

Answer 32

It's a potent vasodilator

Question 33

What is Tagamet?

Answer 33

An H2 receptor agonist with similar structure to histamine

Question 34

NO derived from what aa?

Answer 34

Arginine via the enzyme nitric oxide synthase

Question 35

What is the function of NO?

Answer 35

It's a potent vasodilator

Question 36

What 3 aa's make Glutathione(GSH)?

Answer 36

Glu Cys Gly

Question 37

What kind of reducing agent is GSH?

Answer 37

A strong one

Question 38

Is there a gene or mRNA for GSH?

Answer 38

Nope

Question 39

What 3 aa's make Creatine Phosphate?

Answer 39

Arg Gly Met

Question 40

What does Creatine Phosphate phosphorylate?

Answer 40

ADP > ATP

Question 41

What can store phosphate with increasing ATP levels as a result of Creatine Phosphate?

Answer 41

Muscle and Cardiac

Question 42

What can creatine phosphate be metabolized into?

Answer 42

Creatinine

Question 43

What does increased excretion of creatinine indicative of?

Answer 43

Kidney Damage

Question 44

What are polyamides made from?

Answer 44

Ornithine

Question 45

When do polyamines with DNA ?

Answer 45

During compaction

Question 46

What is carnitine made from?

Answer 46

Trimethyllysine

Question 47

How does carnitine act as an acyl group carrier?

Answer 47

Picks up acyl in cytoplasm, transfers to CoA in mitochondria then free carnitine returns to cytoplasm

Question 48

Where is heme primarily synthesized?

Answer 48

Primarily in liver and bone

Question 49

What are porphyrias?

Answer 49

Diseases of heme synthesis

Question 50

What is congenital erythropoietic porphyria?

Answer 50

A defect in the enzyme cosynthase which results in large amounts of uroporphyrinogen I.

Question 51

What are the symptoms of congenital erythropoietic porphyria?

Answer 51

Premature destruction of RBC's Red Urine Teeth have strong red fluorescence Skin Sensitive to Light What are you a Vampire?

Question 52

What is acute intermittent porphyria?

Answer 52

A defect in the enzyme uroporphyrinogen I synthase.

Question 53

What are the symptoms of acute intermittent porphyria?

Answer 53

Dark urine (primarily liver defect) Episodic bouts of irrational behavior Paralysis or severe pain Hypertension

Question 54

What is toxic porphyria?

Answer 54

Chemical induced by drugs like Phenobarbital

Question 55

Where do RBC's break down?

Answer 55

In the spleen where they release heme

Question 56

What does heme degrade into?

Answer 56

Biliverdin, CO and free FE2+

Question 57

What does Biliverdin get converted into?

Answer 57

Bilirubin which is carried by albumin through the bloodstream to the liver

Question 58

What is bilirubin converted into and where is it excreted?

Answer 58

It is converted into bilirubin diglucuronide for excretion into the small intestine with bile.

Question 59

What does Liver damage or blocked bile ducts result in?

Answer 59

Jaundice