OVERVIEW OF AMINO ACID METABOLISM

ENVIRONMENT ORGANISM

Bio-
Ingested synthesis
Protein
protein
2 3
1
a
AMINO
ACIDS
b
c c
Degradation Purines
(required) Pyrimidines
Porphyrins
Carbon
Nitrogen
skeletons
(ketogenic) (glucogenic)
Urea Used for
pyruvate
energy α-ketoglutarate
acetoacetate
acetyl CoA succinyl-CoA
fumarate
oxaloacetate
 A m in o A c id R e q u ir e m e n ts o f H u m a n s
-- --- --- ------- ---- -- --- --- ------ ---- - --- -- ---- -- --- --- ------ --- ----
N u tr it io n a lly E s s e n t ia l N u tr it io n a lly N o n e s s e n tia l
-- --- --- ------- ---- -- --- --- ------ ---- - --- -- ---- -- --- --- - ----- --- ----
A r g in in e a A la n in e
H is tid in e A s p a ra g in e
I s o le u c in e A s p a rta te
L e u c in e C y s te in e
L y s in e G lu ta m a te
M e th io n in e G lu ta m in e
P h e n y la la n in e G ly c in e
T h r e o n in e P ro lin e
T r y p to p h a n S e r in e
V a lin e T y ro s in e
-- --- --- ------- ---- -- --- --- ------ ---- - --- --- ----- --- --- ------ -- ----- -
a “
N u tr itio n a lly s e m ie s s e n tia l.” S y n th e s iz e d a t ra te s
in a d e q u a te to s u p p o r t g ro w th o f c h ild re n .
 NITROGEN BALANCE

Nitrogen balance = nitrogen ingested - nitrogen excreted

(primarily as protein) (primarily as urea)

Nitrogen balance = 0 (nitrogen equilibrium)

protein synthesis = protein degradation

Positive nitrogen balance

protein synthesis > protein degradation

Negative nitrogen balance

protein synthesis < protein degradation
TRANSAMINATION
 UREA CYCLE

mitochondria
cytosol

Function: detoxification of ammonia

(prevents hyperammonemia)
 FATE OF THE CARBON SKELETONS

Carbon skeletons are used for energy.

Glucogenic: TCA cycle intermediates

or pyruvate (gluconeogensis)

Ketogenic: acetyl CoA, acetoacetyl CoA,

or acetoacetate