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Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways01:29

Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways

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Amino acid biosynthesis is essential for cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. Cells generate essential and non-essential amino acids from metabolic intermediates to sustain vital biological functions. These intermediates originate from key metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Important precursors include α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate, which...
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Amino Acid Catabolism01:18

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The urea cycle describes how liver cells convert ammonia to urea. Ammonia is a toxic waste product of protein catabolism. Land animals must convert ammonia into the less toxic urea which can be safely eliminated by the kidneys through urine. Marine animals excrete ammonia directly, and the surrounding water dilutes the ammonia to safe levels.
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Histidine Metabolism and Function.

Margaret E Brosnan1, John T Brosnan1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

The Journal of Nutrition
|October 1, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Histidine is an essential amino acid vital for protein synthesis and enzyme function. It serves as a precursor for important compounds like carnosine and histamine, with implications for buffering, antioxidant activity, and neurotransmission.

Keywords:
3-methylhistidinecarnosineformiminoglutamatehistaminehistidaseurocanate

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Human Physiology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Histidine is an essential amino acid for humans, meaning it must be obtained from the diet.
  • It plays critical roles in protein structure and enzyme active sites, such as in serine proteases.
  • Recommended daily intake for adults is 10 mg/kg body weight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the essential roles and metabolic pathways of histidine in the human body.
  • To highlight the significance of histidine in various physiological processes.
  • To underscore the importance of understanding histidine metabolism and its related disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of histidine metabolism and function.
  • Analysis of histidine's role in protein synthesis, enzyme catalysis, and precursor pathways.
  • Examination of histidine's catabolism and related genetic disorders.

Main Results:

  • Histidine is crucial for protein synthesis and acts as a key component in enzyme catalytic triads.
  • Excess histidine is metabolized to urocanate, with UV light converting it to a protective cis form in the skin.
  • Histidine is a precursor for carnosine (buffer, antioxidant) and histamine (neurotransmitter, immune response).

Conclusions:

  • Histidine's essentiality underscores its multifaceted roles in human health, from structural proteins to signaling molecules.
  • Understanding histidine metabolism is vital due to its involvement in enzyme function, cellular protection, and neurological processes.
  • Inborn errors in histidine catabolism highlight the importance of its metabolic pathways and potential health consequences.