Nitrogen metabolism Flashcards
Net accumulation of proteins as in growth & pregnancy
Positive Nitrogen Balance
Net breakdown of protein as in surgery, advanced cancer, kwashiorkor or marasmus, starvation
Negative Nitrogen Balance
Protein Turnover per day
300-400g/day
Energy-dependent protein degradation mechanism
Ubiquitin-Proteasome Mechanism
Protein Degradation: Endogenous
Proteasome
Protein Degradation: Exogenous
Lysosome
Sum of all free AAs in cells and ECF, degradation and turnover of body protein, dietary intake, synthesis of non-essential AAs
Amino Acid Pool
Resorption of Proteins per day
150g/day
Degradation of Proteins per day
50-100g/day
Protein Digestion: Stomach
HCl, Pepsin
Protein Digestion: Pancreatic Enzymes
Zymogens activated by Trypsin
Protein Digestion: liberate AAs and dipeptides
Aminopeptidases
Protein Digestion: absorbed by secondary active transport
Free AAs
Protein Digestion: Endopeptidases
Trypsin, Chymotrypsin, Elastase
Protein Digestion: Exopeptidases
Carboxypeptidase, Aminopeptidase
HCl is produced by
parietal cells
Pepsinogen is produced by
chief cells
AA Catabolism: removal of the α-amino group (deamination) forming ammonia and a corresponding α-ketoacid
First Phase
AA Catabolism: carbon skeletons of α-ketoacids are converted to common intermediates of energy-producing metabolic pathways (Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle)
Second Phase
Major disposal form of nitrogen
Urea
Nitrogen Excretion: seen in telostean fish, excrete highly toxic ammonia
Ammonotelic
Nitrogen Excretion: land animals, humans, non-toxic water-soluble urea
Ureotelic
Nitrogen Excretion: birds, secrete uric acid as semisolid guano
Uricotelic
Main steps in removing nitrogen from AA
transamination, oxidative deamination
AA Nitrogen Removal: occurs in all cells of the body, all AAs must transfer their amino groups to α-ketoglutarate to form glutamate (except lysine & threonine)
Transamination
Aminotransferases
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferas (AST)
Aminotransferases: Co-Enzyme
Pyridoxal Phosphate (B6)
ALT is also known as
SGPT (serum glutamate:pyruvate transferase)
ALT/SGPT transaminates
pyruvate, alanine
AST is also known as
SGOT (serum glutamate:OAA transferase)
AST/SGOT transaminates
aspartate, OAA
AA Nitrogen Removal: occurs in the liver and kidney, only for glutamate, glutamate is oxidized and deaminated to yield free ammonia (NH3) which is used to make urea
Oxidative Deamination
Oxidative Deamination: Enzyme
Glutamate Dehydrogenase
Peripheral Nitrogen Removal: synthesized from glutamate and ammonia, occurs in most tissues, including muscle
Glutamine
Peripheral Nitrogen Removal: excess nitrogen from the peripheral tissues can reach the liver through transamination of pyruvate, occurs in muscle
Alanina
In the liver, alanine is converted back to pyruvate which may undergo gluconeogenesis which can be transported back to the muscles
Glucose, Alanine Cycle
Deaminates glutamine to produce ammonium ion (NH$+) which is excreted from the body, eliminates ammonium ion in the urine (kidneys), ammonium ion sent to the liver via the portal circulation for the urea cycle (SI)
Glutaminase
Krebs-Henseleit Cycle/Ornithine Cycle
Urea Cycle
Pathway for removal of nitrogenous waste products in the body, present only in the liver, major disposal of amino groups
Urea Cycle
Donors of the atoms of urea
NH3 from free ammonia and aspartate, C from CO2
Urea Cycle: only _____ can penetrate the mitochondrial membrane
Citrulline
Urea Cycle
Ornithine + Carbamoyl Phosphate → Citrulline + Aspartate → Argininosuccinate - Fumarate → Arginine → Urea + Ornithine
Urea Cycle: Mitochondrial Reactions
Formation of Carbamoyl Phosphate and Citrulline
Urea Cycle: Cytoplasmic Reactions
Synthesis of Arginosuccinate, Cleavage of Arginosuccinate to form Arginine, Arginine cleavage into Urea and Ornithine
Urea Cycle Enzymes: Formation of Carbamoyl Phosphate
Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase I
Urea Cycle Enzymes: Formation of Citrulline
Ornithine Transcarbamoylase
Urea Cycle Enzymes: Synthesis of Arginosuccinate
Arginosuccinate Synthetase
Urea Cycle Enzymes: Cleavage of Arginosuccinate to form Arginine
Argininosuccinase
Urea Cycle Enzymes: Arginine cleavage into Urea and Ornithine
Arginase
Urea Cycle: Substrates
NH3, Aspartate, CO2
Urea Cycle: Rate-Limiting Step
CO2 + NH3 → Carbamoyl Phosphate
Urea Cycle: Rate-Limiting Enzyme
Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase I
Urea Cycle: Energy Requirement
4 ATP
Urea Cycle: Co-Factors
N-acetylglutamate, Biotin
Diffuses from the liver and is transported in the blood to the kidneys where it is filtered and excreted in the urine, a portion diffuses from the blood into the intestines and is cleaved to CO2 and NH3 by bacterial urease
Urea
Enzyme defect in the urea cycle, hyperammonemia, elevated blood glutamine, decreased BUN, lethargy, vomiting, hyperventilation, convulsions, cerebral edema, coma, death
Hereditary Hyperammonemia
Hereditary Hyperammonemia: Type 1 Defect
Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase I Deficiency
Hereditary Hyperammonemia: Type 2 Defect
Ornithine Transcarbamoylase Deficiency