Role of the Liver and Deamination

Flashcards covering the role of the liver in plasma protein synthesis and the chemical steps of deamination.

Fibrinogen

A protein found in blood plasma that is important in blood.

Deamination

A process in which unneeded amino acids that cannot be stored are broken down by removing the nitrogen-containing amino group, converting it into ammonia and then urea.

Carbon-containing part of the molecule

The portion of the amino acid molecule containing carbon that is turned into glycogen and stored.

Nitrogen-containing part of the molecule

The portion of the amino acid molecule containing nitrogen that is turned into ammonia and immediately converted into urea.

Ammonia

A highly toxic substance produced from the nitrogen-containing part of amino acids during deamination, which is immediately converted into urea.

Urea

A substance converted from ammonia during deamination that dissolves in the blood and is transported to the kidney to be excreted.