In: Chemistry
During the metabolism of amino acids, amino groups are often switched from one organic compound to another through a process called transamination. The following are two examples of transamination reactions with their corresponding free energy changes:
glutamate + pyruvate ---> α-ketoglutarate + alanine ∆Go' = - 1.00 kJ/mol
glutamate + oxaloacetate ---> α-ketoglutarate + aspartate ∆Go' = - 4.81 kJ/mol
Answer the following questions about transamination.
a. Using the two equations given above, write an equation for the net formation of alanine and oxaloacetate from aspartate and pyruvate.
b. Calculate the standard free energy change for this overall reaction and indicate whether it will go spontaneously in the direction indicated.
c. Suppose that under steady state conditions in a cell at 37 oC, the actual concentrations of pyruvate and aspartate are 1.2 x 10-2 M, the concentration of alanine is 1.5 x 10-4 M, and the concentration of oxaloacetate is 1.9 x 10-5 M. Using the equation that ∆G = ∆Go' + RT ln [products]/[reactants] and the gas constant of R = 8.315 J/mol K, calculate the actual free energy change and determine if the reaction is spontaneous