01.06.12+-+Amino+Acid+Metabolism+I


 * Amino Acid Metabolism I**


 * 1. Be familiar with the avenue by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a useable form of nitrogen in the biosphere. Know the key nitrogen fixation reaction**


 * 2. Know the three major functions for which amino acids serve in human cells and tissues**


 * 3. Know the essential and nonessential amino acids and the basis for their definition as either category**


 * 4. Know the disease states associated with a failure to ingest or obtain adequate nitrogen nutrition**


 * 5. Know the routes of amino acid entry into cells and tissues and the names of the genetic deficiencies in amino acid permeation**


 * 6. Know the two major enzymatic steps involved in ammonium ion assimilation in human cells**


 * 7. Know how amino groups are shuttled from one amino acid to another via transamination reactions. Know the names of two diagnostic transaminases**


 * 8. Know the role that pyridoxal phosphate plays in transamination reactions**


 * 9. Know the routes by which nonessential amino acids are synthesized from glycolytic or TCA cycle intermediates**


 * 10. Be familiar with the role played by tetrahydrofolate in one carbon metabolism and identify therapeutically relevant inhibitors of tetrahydrofolate metabolism**


 * 11. Know how nonessential amino acids are synthesized from essential amino acids**


 * 12. Know the enzymatic deficiencies that lead to homocystinuria, cystathioninuria, and phenylketonuria**


 * 13. Know how amino groups are removed from amino acids during amino acid catabolism**


 * 14. Know the urea cycle pathway and the inborn errors of metabolism associated with genetic defects in each of the urea cycle enzymes**


 * 15. Know how the carbon skeletons of amino acids are catabolized to energy producing metabolic intermediates of amino acids. Know the terms ketogenic and glycogenic, and be able to identify alkaptonuria and maple syrup urine disease as two disorders of amino acid catabolism**


 * 16. Know how 4-aminobtyrate, histamine, serotonin, catecholamines, creatine and creatine phosphate, S-adenosylmethionine, and polyamines are synthesized from precursor amino acids.**