Amino acids are often called the building blocks of proteins. They are super important for how our bodies use proteins. Knowing how they work makes it easier to understand how proteins are made, broken down, and turned into energy.
First off, amino acids help make proteins. When our cells need a new protein, they use instructions from DNA. This information is copied into something called messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA tells the ribosome how to put together a chain of amino acids in a certain order.
For example, when our body needs insulin, which helps control blood sugar levels, the ribosomes read the mRNA for insulin and create a string of amino acids to form the insulin protein.
Next, we look at amino acid catabolism. This is a fancy way of saying that amino acids are broken down to make energy or to recycle their parts. If we eat more protein than our body needs—or if we're not eating enough during fasting or times of stress—our body breaks down the extra amino acids.
During this breakdown, a part of the amino acid called the amino group gets removed in a process called deamination. This leaves behind a keto acid and ammonia. For example, when the amino acid glutamate is broken down, it turns into alpha-ketoglutarate and ammonia. The keto acid can then be used for energy or in other processes in the body.
Ammonia is harmful, so our body needs to change it into something safer. This is where the urea cycle comes in. In the liver, ammonia is turned into urea, which is then removed from our body through urine. This cycle is really important because it helps keep the right balance of nitrogen and prevents hazardous ammonia from building up in our blood.
To sum it up, amino acids are vital for making and breaking down proteins. By understanding how they help build proteins, produce energy, and remove toxic ammonia, we see just how important these compounds are for keeping our bodies healthy.
Amino acids are often called the building blocks of proteins. They are super important for how our bodies use proteins. Knowing how they work makes it easier to understand how proteins are made, broken down, and turned into energy.
First off, amino acids help make proteins. When our cells need a new protein, they use instructions from DNA. This information is copied into something called messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA tells the ribosome how to put together a chain of amino acids in a certain order.
For example, when our body needs insulin, which helps control blood sugar levels, the ribosomes read the mRNA for insulin and create a string of amino acids to form the insulin protein.
Next, we look at amino acid catabolism. This is a fancy way of saying that amino acids are broken down to make energy or to recycle their parts. If we eat more protein than our body needs—or if we're not eating enough during fasting or times of stress—our body breaks down the extra amino acids.
During this breakdown, a part of the amino acid called the amino group gets removed in a process called deamination. This leaves behind a keto acid and ammonia. For example, when the amino acid glutamate is broken down, it turns into alpha-ketoglutarate and ammonia. The keto acid can then be used for energy or in other processes in the body.
Ammonia is harmful, so our body needs to change it into something safer. This is where the urea cycle comes in. In the liver, ammonia is turned into urea, which is then removed from our body through urine. This cycle is really important because it helps keep the right balance of nitrogen and prevents hazardous ammonia from building up in our blood.
To sum it up, amino acids are vital for making and breaking down proteins. By understanding how they help build proteins, produce energy, and remove toxic ammonia, we see just how important these compounds are for keeping our bodies healthy.