Nitrogen Metabolism

Flashcards created to review key concepts and vocabulary related to nitrogen metabolism, amino acid degradation, and the urea cycle.

Amino acids

Organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins and contain an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a side chain.

Urea cycle

A series of chemical reactions in the liver that converts ammonia into urea for excretion.

α-ketoglutarate

A key intermediate in the citric acid cycle that plays a critical role in amino acid metabolism.

Ammonia (NH4+)

A toxic byproduct of amino acid degradation that is converted to urea in the urea cycle.

Glutamate

An amino acid that serves as a key player in amino group transfer and can be converted to ammonia.

Aminotransferase

Enzymes that facilitate the transfer of amino groups from amino acids to α-ketoacids.

Citric acid cycle

A metabolic pathway that generates energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Glucogenic amino acids

Amino acids that can be converted into glucose through gluconeogenesis.

Ketogenic amino acids

Amino acids that can be converted into ketone bodies through metabolic breakdown.

Citrulline

An intermediate in the urea cycle formed from ornithine and carbamoyl phosphate.

Arginine

An amino acid involved in the production of urea from the urea cycle.

Nitrogen fixation

The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form by living organisms.

Proteasome

A protein complex that degrades unneeded or damaged proteins by proteolysis.

Aspartate

An amino acid that provides one of the nitrogen atoms used in the formation of urea during the urea cycle.

Pyruvate

A key intermediate in several metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and amino acid metabolism.

Succinyl CoA

An intermediate in the citric acid cycle that is produced from the metabolism of certain amino acids.

Transamination

The transfer of an amino group from an amino acid to a keto acid, resulting in amino acid synthesis.

Fumarate

Intermediate in the citric acid cycle that is produced from the urea cycle and can be converted to malate.

Deamination

The removal of an amino group from an amino acid, yielding ammonia and a corresponding α-keto acid.

Glutamine

An amino acid that transports ammonia in a non-toxic form to the liver.