Question

Where does the deamination of amino acids occur and what other metabolic changes occur at this site?

Answer 1

Deamination is removal of amino group from a molecule with the formation of ammonia. Liver is the most common site of deamination. Glutamate is also deaminated by the kidneys.

The major metabolic functions of Liver are as follows:

1) Carbohydrate metabolism:

Glycogenesis: Excess glucose entering the blood after meal is converted into glycogen.

Glycogenolysis: Depolymerization of glycogen to glucose when blood glucose levels decrease.

Gluconeogenesis: Synthesis of glucose from non-hexose carbohydrates during starvation.

2) Fat metabolism:

Oxidation of triglycerides to produce energy.

Lipoprotein synthesis.

Synthesis of cholesterol and phospolipids.

3) Protein metabolism:

Deamination and transamination of aminoacids.

Urea synthesis.

Synthesis of non-essential aminoacids.

Synthesis of plasma proteins like albumin and clotting factors necessary for coagulation of blood.