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Chapter-05 Metabolism of Amino Acids

BOOK TITLE: Essentials of Biochemistry for Medical Students

Author
1. B Shivananda Nayak
ISBN
9788184487718
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/11024_5
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2010
Pages
24
Author Affiliations
1. University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies; Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Chapter keywords

Abstract

Proteins are digested by proteolytic enzymes to simple amino acids. These amino acids are absorbed through active transport mechanism. The absorbed amino acids are utilized to synthesize protein, undergo catabolism to generate non protein nitrogenous substances, urea, fatty acids, ketone bodies and so on. The catabolism of amino acids results in ammonia which is toxic to human body will convert to urea for excretion. Any defect with the urea cycle enzymes results in the accumulation ammonia or intermediates of urea cycle. Glycine is the simplest amino acid responsible for the production of heme, glutathione and purine nucleotides. Glutamate catabolism results in GABA and glutathione. Tyrosine can be synthesized by phenylalanine with the help of phenylalanine hydroxylase. The deficiency of this enzyme results in phenylketonuria. The tyrosine is responsible for the generation of DOPA, dopamine, melanin, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Homogentisate oxidase deficiency results in alkaptonuria with a symptom of dark urine and mental retardation. Serotonin, melatonin and niacin are the metabolic intermediates of tryptophan. The maple serum urine disease is the clinical condition arises due to the deficiency of a-keto acid dehydrogenase enzyme of branched chain amino acid metabolism. Homocystinuria is an inherited disorder of methionine metabolism.

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