m7 Amino Acids and Their Metabolism

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to amino acids, their metabolism, and associated disorders.

Urea Cycle

A series of chemical reactions that take place in the liver, which produces urea from ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Argininosuccinate

An intermediate in the urea cycle that contains two nitrogen groups and can be excreted in urine.

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 or fatty acids.

Tetrahydrofolate

A coenzyme involved in the transfer of one-carbon groups in many important biochemical reactions.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

A disorder that results from the inability to metabolize phenylalanine, leading to toxic buildup.

Alkaptonuria

A metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of homogentisic acid, leading to dark urine.

Glyphosate

A herbicide that inhibits a key enzyme in the shikimic acid pathway, affecting aromatic amino acid synthesis in plants.

Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained through diet.

Nitric Oxide Synthase

An enzyme that catalyzes the production of nitric oxide from L-arginine, playing a key role in vasodilation.