Amino Acid Metabolism

About this book

Amino Acid Metabolism, 3rd Edition covers all aspects of the biochemistry and nutritional biochemistry of the amino acids. Starting with an overview of nitrogen fixation and the incorporation of inorganic nitrogen into amino acids, Amino Acid Metabolism then details other major nitrogenous compounds in micro-organisms, plants and animals. Contents include a discussion of the catabolism of amino acids and other nitrogenous compounds in animals, and the microbiological reactions involved in release of nitrogen gas back into the atmosphere. Mammalian (mainly human) protein and amino acid requirements are considered in detail, and the methods that are used to determine them.

Chapters consider individual amino acids, grouped according to their metabolic origin, and discussing their biosynthesis (in plants and micro-organisms for those that are dietary essentials for human beings), major metabolic roles (mainly in human metabolism) and catabolism (again mainly in human metabolism). There is also discussion of regulatory mechanisms for all these metabolic pathways, and of metabolic and genetic diseases affecting the (human) metabolism of amino acids.

Throughout Amino Acid Metabolism the emphasis is on the nutritional importance of amino acids, integration and control of metabolism and metabolic and other disturbances of relevance to human biochemistry and health.

Contents

Figures xiii
Tables xvii
Preface xix

1 Nitrogen Metabolism 1
2 Nitrogen Balance and Protein Turnover – Protein and Amino Acids in Human Nutrition 67
3 The Role of Vitamin B6 in Amino Acid Metabolism 105
4 Glycine, Serine and the One-Carbon Pool 129
5 Amino Acids Synthesized from Glutamate: Glutamine, Proline, Ornithine, Citrulline and Arginine 157
6 Amino Acids Synthesized from Aspartate: Lysine, Methionine (and Cysteine), Threonine and Isoleucine 225
7 The Branched-Chain Amino Acids: Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine 279
8 Histidine 305
9 The Aromatic Amino Acids: Phenylalanine, Tyrosine and Tryptophan 323

Further reading 375
Bibliography 377
Index 431

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