(M) Lec 3: Non-Nitrogenous Proteins Flashcards
- these have low molecular weight
- they contain nitrogen
- are distinguished from proteins based on their size
- are metabolic by-products/waste of proteins, nucleic acids, and muscle metabolism
Non-Protein Nitrogenous Compounds (NPNs)
A high NPN value is (advantageous or disadvantageous) to man
Disadvantageous
In what excretions (2) are a large number of NPNs found in?
Urine and Stool
In what body fluid are NPNs ideally found in small amounts/minimal concentrations?
Blood
What organ is responsible for properly excreting NPNs?
Kidney
NPNs are converted into proteins by bacteria found in the stomachs of (animals or humans)
Animals
Animals further convert NPNs into proteins while NPNs are the end products in humans (we lack the bacteria that convert it)
Where are NPNs incorporated in to increase its crude protein value which is measured based on nitrogen content?
Animal feeds
Crude protein values of NPNs in animal feeds
Protein: % N?
Urea: % N?
Melamine: % N?
Protein: 16%
Urea: 47%
Melamine: 66%
Order the NPNs from most significant to least (in %)
- Amino acids
- Ammonia
- Creatine
- Creatinine
- Urea
- Uric acids
I will give the percentages in the answer, just familiarize there
- Urea (45%)
- Amino Acids (20%)
- Uric Acids (20%)
- Creatinine (5%)
- Creatine (1-2%)
- Ammonia (0-2%)
What 4 NPNs are part of the parameters for a kidney function test?
- Urea
- Amino acids
- Creatinine
- Creatine
What NPN is part of the parameters for a liver function test?
Ammonia
What NPN will significantly increase if there is an increased result for NPNs in general?
Urea (highest concentration)
This NPN is technically not yet part of the “NPNs classified as waste products” as it is “not really” a protein yet
Amino acids
Note: From protein > amino acids > urea
Which among creatinine and creatine is the end product?
Creatinine (creatine signifies incomplete muscle metabolism)
Clinically Significant NPNs
This is the major excretory product of oxidative protein and amino acid metabolism
Urea or BUN
Clinically Significant NPNs
This is synthesized in the liver from CO2 and ammonia that arises from the deamination of amino acids
Urea or BUN
The synthesis of UREA in the liver from CO2 and ammonia that arises from the deamination of amino acids is known as what cycle?
Clue: It has 3 names
- Urea cycle
- Ornithine cycle
- Kreb’s Henseleit cycle
Urea is excreted in both urine and stool, but what percentage of it actually makes it to the urine?
90%
Consists of half of the urinary solids
Determination of Blood Concentration (UREA)
Abnormal levels of urea can give an idea about an individual’s renal function and perfusion, does it indicate acute or chronic disorders?
BOTH
Determination of Blood Concentration (UREA)
A diet rich in this component will result to high urea formation
High protein diet
Determination of Blood Concentration (UREA)
Urea is a good indicator for an individual’s state of what?
Hydration
Normal Urea = Hydrated
Abnormal Urea = Possible dehydration
Determination of Blood Concentration (UREA)
Refers to how FAST the body is able to catabolize proteins
Protein Catabolism Rate
Determination of Blood Concentration (UREA)
Urea is a good indicator for an individual’s intake of what?
Nitrogen
Urea has the HIGHEST nitrogen concentration among the NPNs
Urea Determination
This has been used to refer to a MEASUREMENT OF UREA, not the actual urea
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
Urea Determination
Actual Urea has a formula of what?
Actual urea is the level of urea minus the nitrogen
BUN x 2.14 mg/dL
The CF for urea is 2.14
Urea Determination
What is the conversion factor for actual urea when you have computed for the conventional unit (mg/dL) and would like to report it as an SI unit (mmol/L)?
Simply multiply the obtained mg/dL value with this CF to get mmol/L
0.357 or 0.36 mmol/L
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea
Which among enzymatic and chemical reactions are the direct and indirect methods for determining urea?
Enzymatic - indirect
Chemical - direct
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Enzymatic/Indirect Method)
- most common enzymatic method
- couples the urease with glutamate dehydrogenase (2 reactions)
- the amount of NAD produced corresponds to the amount of urea
Coupled Urease (Glutamate Dehydrogenase) Method
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Enzymatic/Indirect Method)
In Coupled Urease (Glutamate Dehydrogenase) Method, what are the end products [2] after the coupled reactions?
Glutamate and H2O
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Enzymatic/Indirect Method)
In Coupled Urease (Glutamate Dehydrogenase) Method, the amount of glutamate and H2O is not the main analyte being measured, instead what it is?
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD)
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Enzymatic/Indirect Method)
- ammonia will result in a color change with the help of a pH indicator
- thiosemicarbazide and ferric ions are added to enhance color development
- color intensity corresponds to the amount of urea
Note: W/o the reagents in the 2nd bullet, the color will be very light
Indicator Dye
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Enzymatic/Indirect Method)
- urea is broken down into ammonia and bicarbonate which produces conductive activity
- amount of conductivity produced is correspondent to the amount of urea
Note: This method has low sensitivity
Conductimetric
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Enzymatic/Indirect Method)
- this measures the production of indophenol blue when phenol is added as a reagent
- ammonia will result in a color change with the help of a pH indicator
Berthelot Reaction
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Enzymatic/Indirect Method)
- urea will produce ammonia and CO2 (the ammonia can be measured by treating it with Berthelot reagents)
- is commonly and routinely done
Hydrolysis of Urea (by urease)
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Enzymatic/Indirect Method)
- this is the REFERENCE METHOD for measuring urea
- the GOLD STANDARD
Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS)
Note: This is not only for urea, it is also the reference method for other tests
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Chemical/Direct Method)
- most commonly used direct method
- diacetyl is added to urea to produce diazine
- it appears as a yellow-colored compound
- it is measured using a spectrophotometer and it has a higher sensitivity than other methods
Diacetyl Monoxime (DAM)
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Chemical/Direct Method)
In the Diacetyl Monoxime (DAM) Method, the production of diazine from the combination of urea and diacetyl is known as what reaction?
Fearon’s Reaction
Analytical Methods in Determining Urea (Chemical/Direct Method)
- the addition of o-phthaldehyde to urea will produce isoindoline which is acted upon by N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine resulting in a colored product
- the resulting color is dependent on the indicator added
O-phthaldehyde Method
Specimen Requirements (Urea)
What 3 bodily fluids can be used?
- Serum
- Plasma
- Urine
Specimen Requirements (Urea)
Urea should not be contamined with:
1. Fluoride
2. Citrate
3. Ammonia
Which among these results in false increased and false decreased values?
Note: I will explain the rationale in the results
Falsely decreased: Fluoride and Citrate
Falsely increased: Ammonia
Fluoride and Citrate - inhibits urease
Ammonia - a fellow NPN
Specimen Requirements (Urea)
TOF: You must fast before submitting a sample for urea testing
False (a non-fasting sample is needed)
Reference Values for Urea
- For serum?
- For 24H urine?
Serum: 6-20 mg/dL
Urine: 12-20 g/day
Disease Correlations of UREA
- elevated levels of all nitrogenous substances (urea has the most striking prominence)
- it has three types depending on the organ of origin
Azotemia
Disease Correlations of UREA
What are the 3 kinds of azotemia?
- Pre-renal
- Renal
- Post-renal
Disease Correlations of UREA
- accumulation of NPNs in the blood due to the inability of urea to enter the kidneys (before it even arrives at the kidneys)
- caused by conditions already existing in the blood (specifically a decrease in renal perfusion)
- caused by dehydration, shock, and congestive heart failure
Pre-renal Azotemia
Disease Correlations of UREA
In Pre-renal Azotemia, there is a decreased rate of what but with normal renal function?
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Disease Correlations of UREA
In Pre-renal Azotemia, increased urea comes with (decreased, normal, or increased) blood creatinine
Normal
Disease Correlations of UREA
- the TRUE kidney disease
- there is increased BUN due to poor excretion
- caused by either acute or chronic kidney disease and glomerulonephritis
- can cause coma and neuropsychiatric changes
Renal Azotemia
Disease Correlations of UREA
In Renal Azotemia, striking urea levels come with (decreased, normal, or increased) blood creatinine
Increased (slowly rising)
Disease Correlations of UREA
Renal Azotemia Criteria (give the values for the ff. analytes:)
1. BUN
2. Creatinine
3. Uric Acid
- BUN - ≥100 mg/dL
- Creatinine - ≥20 mg/dL
- Uric Acid - ≥12 mg/dL
Disease Correlations of UREA
- there is marked elevation in plasma urea accompanied by acidemia and electrolyte imbalance (potassium is elevated)
- the kidneys fail to eliminate waste products
- characterized by anemia (normocytic normochromic), uremic frost (dirty skin of metallic color), edema, foul breath, and urine in sweat
Uremia
Note: Only BUN is high in this disease (because it is found in plasma)
Disease Correlations of UREA
What are the normal values of the BUN to CREATININE (B:C) ratio which differentiates the causes of abnormal urea in the blood?
10:1 to 20:1
Disease Correlations of UREA
Indicate if:
A. Low B:C Ratio (< 10:1)
B. Increased B:C w/ normal creatinine
C. Increased B:C w/ high creatinine
- decreased urea production
- low-protein diet
- acute tubular necrosis
- repeated dialysis
- hepatic disease
A.
Disease Correlations of UREA
Indicate if:
A. Low B:C Ratio (< 10:1)
B. Increased B:C w/ normal creatinine
C. Increased B:C w/ high creatinine
- pre-renal azotemia
- high-protein intake
- thyrotoxicosis
- GI hemorhhage
- dehydration
- catabolic states
B.
Disease Correlations of UREA
Indicate if:
A. Low B:C Ratio (< 10:1)
B. Increased B:C w/ normal creatinine
C. Increased B:C with high creatinine
- post-renal azotemia
- pre-renal azotemia with renal disease
- uremia
- renal failure
C.
TOF: Urea is the hardest waste to remove in dialysis due to its abundance
False (the easiest)