Chapter 18 Flashcards
What converts N2 –> NH3
also NH3 –> NH4+
Nitrogenase
Nitrogen fixing organisms
Diazotrophs: Marine cyanobacteria/root nodule bacteria that make nitrogenase
Biological productivity is limited by …
availability of fixed N₂
Nitrogenase structure
Iron-sulfur centers
Cofactor with both iron and molybdenum (FeMo)
needs 8e-
consumes 16 ATP
FeMo cofactor: What does it do?
Facilitates breaking through triple bonds in N, requires strong reducing agents such as donor (ferredoxin). Consumes ATP. Needs 8e-
What inactivates nitrogenase
Oxygen
Oxidation of NH4+ –> NO3-
Nitrification (Nitrogen reductase)
Conversion of NO3- to N2
Denitrification
GluatMINE synthEtase
Microorganisms: entry point for fixed nitrogen
Animals: absorbs excess ammonia, which is toxic
Step 1: ATP donates phosphoryl group to glutamate
Step 2: Ammonia reacts with intermediate, displacing Pi to make glutamine
ATP consumed
Glu/Gln = amino group carriers (in high concentration)
Activity tightly regulated to maintain supply of amino groups
____ assimilates fixed nitrogen as NH₄+ into organic compound (CAC intermediate) to make amino acid
Combination of Gln synthetase and glu synthase
Glutamate synthase
Exchange amine group
Transfer 2nd NH2 to alpha ketoglutarate
Creates 2 glutamates
How do amino acids move between compounds?
Transaminase
Only amino acid that can’t be transaminated?
Lysine
Most transaminases only accept __________________ as the alpha-keto acid substrate
alpha-ketoglutarate or oxaloacetate
What is the acid/base catalyst in transaminase?
Enzyme Lys, acts as schiff
Transaminase cofactors
Requires PLP prosthetic group for transient attachment
Derivative of pyridoxine (Vitamin B₆)
Covalently attached to enzyme via schiff base (imine) linkage to Lys residue
Nonessential (define)
we make it
Essential (define)
we need to eat it
Nonessential (list)
A’s, G’s,
Promote, Serious, Roses
(proline, serine, tyrosine)
Essential (list)
HILL
MVP
There’s 9 Tries
Branched Essentials from pyruvate – >
Valine, Isoleucine, Leucine
Val, Ile, Leu (VIL)