In: Biology
Where does the aspartate nitrogen bind to citrulline in the urea cycle and where do the carbons of aspartate go after the nitrogen is left on citrulline (what is the product). Where does that product fit into the rest of metabolism?
In the cytoplasm of liver aspartate and citrulline form arginosuccinate. Furtur, nitrogen of aspartic acid goes into arginine and carbon of aspartic acid goes into fumarate .
The production of fumarate ( carbon of aspartic acid ) in urea cycle is the most important integrating point with TCA ( tricarboxylic acid cycle) cycle. Fumarate is converted to malate and then to oxaloacetate in TCA cycle. Furtur,
1.Oxaloacetate undergoes transmination to produce aspartate which enters urea cycle.
2. Oxaloacetate can also server as a precursor for the synthesis of glucose ( gluconeogenesis)
3. Oxaloacetate combine with acetyl CoA to form citrate and get finally oxidized. TCA cycle is an important metabolic pathway for the complete oxidation of various metabolites to CO2 and H2O. The CO2 liberated in TCA cycle can be utilized in urea cycle.