Question

Which amino acid is synthesized due to reductive amination of α-ketoglutaric acid?

Answer 1

Aspartic acid was synthesized most efficiently through the amination of fumaric acid, while glutamic acid was better synthesized through the transamination of aspartic acid with alpha-KGA than through reductive amination of alpha-KGA.

Answer 2

Glutamic acid is synthesized due to reductive amination of ‘alpha ketoglutaric acid’.  

Explanation:

• Reductive amination is a process by which an ‘aldehyde or a ketone’ is converted into an amine by reacting with ammonia.  

• In the first step, ammonia reacts spontaneously with ‘keto acid’ to form an ‘imino acid’.  

• In the second step, this imino acid is ‘subsequently’ reduced to an ‘amino acid’ in the presence of ‘reduced NAD+’.  

• Glutamic acid is formed from alpha ketoglutaric acid by reductive amination catalysed by the ‘enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase’ and NADH.