ABSTRACT
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. In our bodies, proteins are continually being broken down into amino acids, and some of these amino acids are used for making new proteins, but the remainder are broken down further. As the degradation of the various amino acids is described, really focus on the molecular groups that are being removed or altered and the patterns of the changes. Once the amine group is removed, the carbon skeleton of most amino acids can be metabolised to generate energy or form glucose. Energy is readily extracted if the carbon skeletons can be formed into molecules of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In addition to conversion to elements of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, some amino acids are converted to pyruvate. The carbon skeleton of amino acids is derived from intermediates of glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle or the pentose phosphate pathway.
