Questions and Answers
What happens to proteins that are broken down?
What is the goal of amino acid degradation?
To produce molecules that can be oxidized for energy or converted to glucose.
Amino acids must be deaminated before they can be oxidized or converted.
True
What is the key molecule in the degradation of amino acids?
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What occurs during transamination?
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What is produced when the amine group of glutamic acid is removed?
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The reactions in the liver that produce urea involve the removal of an amine group from ____ acid.
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Where does protein synthesis occur?
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What controls the amount and type of protein synthesized?
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Study Notes
Protein Breakdown and Use
- Proteins undergo degradation, resulting in amino acids that can be repurposed for new proteins or other nitrogen-containing compounds.
Amino Acid Degradation
- The primary aim is to create molecules for energy production in the citric acid cycle or to convert amino acids into glucose.
- Deamination is crucial: the amine group (NH2) must be removed for further processing.
- Following deamination, the resulting molecule is converted to pyruvic acid or intermediary keto acids within the citric acid cycle.
- Glutamic acid plays a significant role as a key molecule in this process.
Transamination Process
- Transamination involves transferring an amine group from one amino acid to a keto acid.
- This reaction creates glutamic acid from the modified keto acid.
Oxidative Deamination
- Occurs primarily in the liver, where the amine group of glutamic acid is released as ammonia (NH3).
- The process regenerates the corresponding keto acid.
- Ammonia combines with carbon dioxide (CO2) to form urea and water, facilitating nitrogen waste removal.
Keto Acid Modification
- Keto acids generated through transamination are further modified to create metabolites suitable for entry into the citric acid cycle.
Protein Synthesis
- Protein synthesis occurs on ribosomes, where enzymes facilitate the formation of peptide bonds to connect amino acids into polypeptide chains.
- Hormonal regulation directs the quantity and type of proteins produced during synthesis.
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Description
This quiz covers the fundamentals of protein metabolism, focusing on the breakdown and utilization of amino acids. It addresses key processes such as deamination, transamination, and oxidative deamination, highlighting the roles of various molecules in energy production. Test your knowledge on how these biochemical processes contribute to metabolism.
