Protein

Metabolism

From: Protein Data Bank PDB ID: 1B0E

Kalus, W., Zweckstetter, M., Renner, C., Sanchez, Y., Georgescu, J., Grol, M., Demuth, D., Schumacher, R., Dony, C., Lang, K., Holak, T. A.: structure of the IGF-binding
domain of the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5): implications for IGF and IGF-I receptor interactions. EMBO J 17 pp. 6558 (1998)
Nitrogen balance

 Protein content of adult body

remains remarkably constant
 Protein constitutes 10-15% of diet
 Equivalent amount of amino acids must
be lost each day
Amino acid pool
 No storage facility for amino
acids
 Amino acids incorporated into
functional proteins
 Amino acids in blood and
extracellular fluid represent an
‘amino acid pool’
 Amino acids move through this
pool
 Average 60 kg woman
– 10 kg protein From: Summerlin LR (1981) Chemistry for the Life Sciences. New
York: Random House p 563.
– 170 g free amino acids in pool
 Fate of amino acids
 If not required for protein synthesis
amino groups removed
 For most amino acids occurs
primarily in liver
 For BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine,
valine) occurs primarily in skeletal
muscle
 amino groups transferred to alanine
and taken to liver for disposal via
glucose-alanine cycle
 Carbon skeletons used for:
 Gluconeogenesis (in liver)
 Oxidised in Krebs Cycle
From: Summerlin LR (1981) Chemistry for the Life Sciences. New
 Amino groups used for York: Random House p 563.

 Synthesis of nonprotein nitrogen

compounds
 disposed of via Urea Cycle
Amino acid metabolism

 Metabolism of amino acids differs,

but 3 common reactions:

 Transamination

 Deamination

 Formation of urea
Transamination reactions
 Amino group removed from
one amino acid and
transferred to another
 Catalysed by aminotransferase
enzymes
 Nearly all transaminations
transfer amino group to α -
ketoglutarate
 Forms new ketoacid and
glutamate (amino acid)
 BCAA transaminations in SM
usually result in formation of
alanine (via glutamate)
 Released from muscle From: Houston, ME. (2001) Biochemistry Primer for Exercise
Science. Champaign: Human Kinetics. p151
 Allows amino groups from BCAAs
to move from SM to liver for
disposal
Deamination reactions
 Amino group (and H)
removed
 Forms ammonia (NH3)
 Carbon skeleton left can be
 Oxidised in KC
 used for gluconeogenesis
 converted to fatty acid
 18 amino acids
glucogenic/ketogenic
 Leucine and lysine purely
ketogenic

From: Houston, ME. (2001) Biochemistry Primer for Exercise Science.

Champaign: Human Kinetics. p148
Urea cycle
 Ammonia is toxic
 Readily ionises to
ammonium ion NH4+
 NH4+ converted to urea in liver
(urea cycle)
– Urea contains 2 x NH2
 One from NH4+
 One from aspartate
 Urea excreted in urine

From: Stryer, LS (1988) Biochemistry (3rd Ed). New York: WH Freeman &
Co. p500