Ch 18 Pt 2 Internal Protein Breakdown and Fate of Ammonia

ammonia

This harmful compound comes from two places in the body, amino acid breakdown (either dietary or internal protein breakdown) and gut bacteria

T

(T/F) Free ammonia is toxic to animal tissue

Glutamine

Formed when free ammonia is added to glutamate, catalyzed by glutamine synthetase. Excess of this molecule, if not needed for biosynthesis, is transported in the bloodstream for processing to the liver and kidney.

urea

NH4 is disposed of in the form of what?

dietary

(Dietary/muscle) protein is broken down using aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase in the liver

Muscle

(Dietary/muscle) protein is broken down using glutamate and the glucose alanine cycle, in which glutamate transfers an amino group to pyruvate to make alanine and transport it to the liver. It occurs primarily during fasting, prolonged exercise, and starvation

Glucose-Alanine cycle

Working muscles operate anaerobically and rely on glycolysis for energy. This yields pyruvate, which can be converted to alanine for transport to the liver by this process in which glutamate transfers an amino group to pyruvate, making alanine, which is transported to the liver and the amino acid is transferred to alpha ketoglutarate to make pyruvate and glutamate. Glucose is regenerated and returned to the muscle

ammonotelic

A type of nitrogen excretion in which amino groups as ammonia are excreted in an aqueous environment. Used most in bony fishes and amphibian larvae1

Ureotelic

A type of nitrogen excretion in which amino groups as urea (formed primarily in the mitochondria of the liver cells) are excreted. This conserves water. It is used in many terrestrial vertebrates and sharks.

Uricotelic

A type of nitrogen excretion in which amino groups as uric acid are excreted in the form of a paste. Is used in birds and reptiles