Answer to Question #185769 in Biochemistry for Raafia

Question

What is the possible connection between Urea cycle and other metabolic pathways? Can intermediates of urea cycle can serve as precursors for amino acid, carbohydrate, fatty acid and/or nucleotide metabolism (anabolism/catabolism). Give examples

Answer 1

Urea Cycle is a metabolic pathway which converts ammonia which is highly toxic to urea which is less toxic for excretion. During the cycle fumarate is produced which is used in the TCA cycle to produce NADH molecules. NADH is in turn fed to the oxidative phosphate pathway to produce energy. (ATP)

Metabolites of urea Cycle include Carbomoyl phosphate, citrulline, Arginosuccinate, Arginine and Ornithine which cannot be used as intermediates for carbohydrates, fatty acids and nucleotide metabolism.