Textbook Question
What citric acid cycle intermediates are precursors to amino acids?
Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 25, Problem 23a
What is the structure of the ⍺-keto acid formed from transamination of the following amino acids?
a. Glutamic acid
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of transamination: Transamination is a biochemical reaction where an amino group (-NH₂) from an amino acid is transferred to an α-keto acid, typically α-ketoglutarate, forming a new amino acid and a new α-keto acid. In this case, we are identifying the α-keto acid formed when glutamic acid undergoes transamination.
Identify the structure of glutamic acid: Glutamic acid is an amino acid with the structure HOOC-CH₂-CH₂-CH(NH₂)-COOH. It contains an amino group (-NH₂) attached to the α-carbon and two carboxylic acid groups (-COOH).
Determine the α-keto acid formed: During transamination, the amino group (-NH₂) on the α-carbon of glutamic acid is removed and replaced with a keto group (=O). This results in the formation of an α-keto acid. The structure of the α-keto acid will be HOOC-CH₂-CH₂-CO-COOH.
Name the α-keto acid: The α-keto acid formed from glutamic acid is α-ketoglutaric acid (also known as 2-oxoglutaric acid). This compound is a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle.
Verify the reaction: Ensure that the reaction follows the general pattern of transamination, where the amino group is transferred to another molecule (e.g., α-ketoglutarate) and the original amino acid is converted into its corresponding α-keto acid.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Transamination
Transamination is a biochemical process where an amino group from an amino acid is transferred to a keto acid, resulting in the formation of a new amino acid and a new keto acid. This reaction is crucial in amino acid metabolism and is catalyzed by enzymes known as transaminases or aminotransferases. For example, when glutamic acid undergoes transamination, it can donate its amino group to α-ketoglutarate, forming α-keto acid and another amino acid.
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Amino Acid Catabolism: Amino Group Example 2
α-Keto Acid
An α-keto acid is a type of organic compound that contains a carbonyl group (C=O) adjacent to a carboxylic acid group (–COOH). These compounds play a significant role in metabolism, particularly in the Krebs cycle, where they serve as intermediates. The α-keto acid formed from the transamination of glutamic acid is α-ketoglutarate, which is essential for energy production and amino acid synthesis.
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Glutamic Acid
Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid that serves as a building block for proteins and plays a key role in cellular metabolism. It is involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and is a precursor for the formation of other amino acids. In the context of transamination, glutamic acid is often the donor of the amino group, facilitating the conversion of α-ketoglutarate into other amino acids, thus linking amino acid metabolism with energy production.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Define what an “essential” nutrient is and explain how it differs from a “nonessential” nutrient.
Textbook Question
What other product is formed in oxidative deamination besides an ⍺-keto acid?
Textbook Question
In general, how does oxidative deamination differ from transamination?
Textbook Question
In the liver, the relative activity of ornithine transcarbamylase is high, that of argininosuccinate synthetase is low, and that of arginase is high. Why is it important that ornithine transcarbamylase activity be high in the liver? What might be the consequence if arginase activity is low or defective?
Textbook Question
Write the structure of the ⍺-keto acid produced by oxidative deamination of the following amino acids:
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a. Leucine