In: Anatomy and Physiology
What metabolic pathways provide molecules from which plants, microbes and mammals make amino acids? List, and name a few of the most important metabolites that provide those carbon parts.
Amino acid synthesis involves a set of chemical reactions/processes in which certain parts of biomolecules are used for the generation of amino acids.
Some of the pathways which are involved in amino acid synthesis are:
Nitrogen fixation by diazotrophs produces Ammonia. Eukaryotes
cannot store this inorganic ammonia. So, they have to convert this
inorganic form into organic nitrogen (Nitrogen assimilation).
Nitrogen assimilation occurs by two mechanisms.
1. Reductive amination:
Alpha-ketoglutarate + NADPH + NH4+ -----> Glutamate + H2O +
NADP+
Glutamate is the first amino acid to be produced. It serves as the
donor for the biosynthesis of other amino acids by transamination
reactions.
2. Transamination:
Glutamate + Pyruvate ------> Alanine + Alpha-ketoglutarate
Glutamate + Oxaloacetate ------> Aspartate +
Alpha-ketoglutarate
Other amino acid carbon skeletons (Keto acids) are generated by
multiple metabolic pathways.
Examples:
1. Pyruvate is produced by Glycolysis
2. Oxaloacetate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and succinate are produced by
the TCA cycle.