Textbook Question
Name the metabolic substrate(s) that can be produced from the carbon atoms of each of the following amino acids:
c. valine
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25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism
Amino Acid Catabolism: Carbon Atoms
Multiple Choice
Which intermediate can be produced from degradation of carbon atoms in glutamate?
A
α-Ketoglutarate
B
Pyruvate
C
Acetyl CoA
D
Succinyl CoA
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the context: Glutamate is an amino acid that can undergo degradation in metabolic pathways. The degradation of glutamate involves the removal of its amino group, leading to the formation of an intermediate compound.
Identify the key process: The degradation of glutamate typically involves transamination, where the amino group is transferred to another molecule, and oxidative deamination, which removes the amino group as ammonia.
Recognize the main intermediate: During the degradation of glutamate, the carbon skeleton is converted into α-Ketoglutarate, a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle).
Connect to metabolic pathways: α-Ketoglutarate is an important compound in cellular respiration, linking amino acid metabolism to energy production. It can be further metabolized in the citric acid cycle.
Review other options: Pyruvate, Acetyl CoA, and Succinyl CoA are intermediates in different metabolic pathways. Pyruvate is involved in glycolysis, Acetyl CoA in fatty acid metabolism and the citric acid cycle, and Succinyl CoA in the citric acid cycle, but they are not direct products of glutamate degradation.
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