Alyssa I. answered • 04/14/21
Medical Student Specializing in Science and Spanish Tutoring
Amino acid catabolism can occur via different metabolic routes, each with a specific purpose, including the production of metabolic fuels (e.g., pyruvate, acetyl-CoA), reuse in the synthesis of new proteins, and the creation of amino acid derivatives. Serine catabolism (degradation) occurs via a biochemical process called deamination in order to yield pyruvate. During this reaction an amino group from an AA is released as ammonium.
RXN: Serine dehydratase: serine + PLP ⇄ NH4+ + pyruvate
1st: Serine dehydratase catalyzes elimination of hydroxyl
2nd: This forms aminoacrylate and H20
3rd: hydrolysis cleaves amino group from aminoacrylate
4th: formation of NH4+ and pyruvate
