Transamination Reactions in Amino Acids

Transamination Reactions

• Transamination reactions combine reversible amination and deamination, mediating the redistribution of amino groups among amino acids.
• These reactions involve the transfer of amino groups from amino acids to α-keto acids, resulting in the formation of new amino acids and α-keto acids.

Transaminases

• Transaminases (also known as aminotransferases) are widely distributed in human tissues, with high activity in heart muscle, liver, skeletal muscle, and kidney.
• Different enzymes are involved in transamination reactions, depending on the specific amino acid and α-keto acid involved.

Examples of Transaminases

Aspartate Transaminase (AST)

• Aspartate transaminase (AST) is an example of a transaminase enzyme.
• AST is involved in transamination reactions, specifically converting aspartate and α-ketoglutarate to oxaloacetate and glutamate.

Alanine Transaminase (ALT)

• Alanine transaminase (ALT) is another example of a transaminase enzyme, with enzymatic activity similar to AST.
• ALT is predominantly found in the liver and plays a crucial role in liver function.
• Elevated ALT levels in the blood can indicate liver injury or disease, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.