Urea Cycle
Each list begins with basic conceptual vocabulary you need to know for MCAT questions and proceeds to advanced terms that might appear in context in MCAT passages. The terms are links to Wikipedia articles.
Amination
Amination is the process by which an amine group is introduced into an organic molecule.
Amination is the process by which an amine group is introduced into an organic molecule.
Urea
Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound with chemical formula CO(NH2)2. This amide has two –NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl (C=O) functional group.
Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound with chemical formula CO(NH2)2. This amide has two –NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl (C=O) functional group.
Transamination
Transamination (or aminotransfer) is the reaction between an amino acid and an alpha-keto acid in which the amino group is transferred from the former to the latter.
Transamination (or aminotransfer) is the reaction between an amino acid and an alpha-keto acid in which the amino group is transferred from the former to the latter.
Urea cycle
The urea cycle (also known as the ornithine cycle) is a cycle of biochemical reactions occurring in many animals that converts ammonia into a less toxic substance.
The urea cycle (also known as the ornithine cycle) is a cycle of biochemical reactions occurring in many animals that converts ammonia into a less toxic substance.
Carbamoyl phosphate
As an intermediary metabolite in nitrogen disposal through the urea cycle, carbamoyl phosphate is produced from bicarbonate, ammonia (derived from amino acids), and phosphate (from ATP).
As an intermediary metabolite in nitrogen disposal through the urea cycle, carbamoyl phosphate is produced from bicarbonate, ammonia (derived from amino acids), and phosphate (from ATP).
Citrulline
Citrulline is made from ornithine and carbamoyl phosphate in one of the central reactions in the urea cycle.
Citrulline is made from ornithine and carbamoyl phosphate in one of the central reactions in the urea cycle.
Arginosuccinate
Arginosuccinate is synthesized from citrulline and aspartate in the urea cycle.
Arginosuccinate is synthesized from citrulline and aspartate in the urea cycle.
Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I
Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I transfers an ammonia molecule from glutamine or glutamate to a molecule of bicarbonate that has been phosphorylated by a molecule of ATP. The resulting carbamate is then phosphorylated with another molecule of ATP.
Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I transfers an ammonia molecule from glutamine or glutamate to a molecule of bicarbonate that has been phosphorylated by a molecule of ATP. The resulting carbamate is then phosphorylated with another molecule of ATP.
Transaminase
A transaminase or an aminotransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of an amine group between an amino acid and an alpha-keto acid.
A transaminase or an aminotransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of an amine group between an amino acid and an alpha-keto acid.
Ornithine transcarbamylase
Ornithine transcarbamylase catalyzes the reaction between carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine to form citrulline and phosphate.
Ornithine transcarbamylase catalyzes the reaction between carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine to form citrulline and phosphate.
Argininosuccinate lyase
Argininosuccinate lyase catalyzes the reversible breakdown of argininosuccinate producing the amino acid arginine and dicarboxylic acid fumarate.
Argininosuccinate lyase catalyzes the reversible breakdown of argininosuccinate producing the amino acid arginine and dicarboxylic acid fumarate.
Arginase
Arginase catalyzes the hydrolysis of arginine to form ornithine and urea. It is the final enzyme of the urea cycle.
Arginase catalyzes the hydrolysis of arginine to form ornithine and urea. It is the final enzyme of the urea cycle.
N-acetylglutamate
In vertebrae and mammals, N-acetylglutamate is the allosteric activator molecule to mitochondrial carbamyl phosphate synthetase I (CPSI) which is the first enzyme in the urea cycle.
In vertebrae and mammals, N-acetylglutamate is the allosteric activator molecule to mitochondrial carbamyl phosphate synthetase I (CPSI) which is the first enzyme in the urea cycle.
Pyridoxal phosphate
Pyridoxal-phosphate (vitamin B6) is a coenzyme in all transamination reactions, and in some decarboxylation and deamination reactions of amino acids.
Pyridoxal-phosphate (vitamin B6) is a coenzyme in all transamination reactions, and in some decarboxylation and deamination reactions of amino acids.
