4 Amino acid metabolism and specialized products

Learning Objectives

  • Define essential, conditionally essential, and nonessential amino acids, and explain how certain nonessential amino acids become essential in certain conditions.
  • Integrate amino acid synthesis with specific precursors from glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway.
  • Identify key roles of amino acids as substrates for the synthesis of specialized products, including heme, GABA, carnitine, glutathione, serotonin, histamine, ubiquinone, melanin, creatine, and dopamine.
  • Review the role of transamination in the interconversion of amino acids and connection to the urea cycle.
  • Distinguish the following disease states associated with inborn errors of metabolism, including (A) the deficient enzyme, (B) inheritance pattern of the disease, and (C) relation of the deficiency to the buildup of secondary metabolites. The following is a list of diseases to focus on:
    • Phenylketonuria (Phenylalanine metabolism)
    • Homocystinuria (Methionine metabolism)
    • Maple syrup urine disease (Branched-chain amino acid metabolism)
    • Alkaptouria (Tyrosine metabolism)

There are twenty amino acids required for metabolic homeostasis. Of the twenty amino acids, eleven are considered nonessential, meaning they can be synthesized by the body. With the exceptions of tyrosine and cysteine, nonessential amino acids can be synthesized from glucose and a nitrogen donor. The other nine amino acids are essential and must be supplied by the diet. In addition to supplying carbon for gluconeogenesis, amino acids play important roles in the synthesis of essential cellular components. Disruptions of many of these pathways can lead to clinical disorders, many of which are identified during newborn screenings. The synthesis of all amino acids will not be addressed in this section; rather the most clinically relevant pathways will be focused on.

Cofactors essential for amino acid metabolism

The metabolism of many amino acids largely relies on the availability of the cofactors pyridoxal phosphate (B6 or PLP), tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and tetrahydrofolate (TH4). It is important to recognize that deficiencies in these cofactors could present in a similar manner as enzymatic deficiencies of specific pathways.

Pyridoxal phosphate (B6 or PLP)

All transamination reactions require PLP as a cofactor. These reactions are essential for moving (or donating) ammonia from an amino acid to a keto-acid to generate a different amino acid.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)

BH4 is a cofactor synthesized from GTP. It is oxidized during hydroxylation reactions, most notably the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine.image Enzymatic deficiencies leading to decreased synthesis of BH4 can present similar to deficiencies in phenylalanine metabolism.

Tetrahydrofolate (FH4)

Folate can exist in many forms and is often referred to as tetrahydrofolate. FH4 is often found in various forms with a one-carbon group attached. These one-carbon groups, which make up the one-carbon pool, can be oxidized or reduced. One-carbon groups can be transferred to other compounds and play essential roles in the synthesis of glycine from serine, the synthesis of the base thymine (required for DNA synthesis), the purine bases required for both DNA and RNA synthesis, and the transfer of methyl groups to vitamin B12.

Synthesis of specialized products

The following highlights some of the key aspects of amino acid metabolism.

Phenylalanine and tyrosine

Phenylalanine (Phe) is an essential amino acid, and hydroxylation of Phe by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) generates tyrosine (figure 4.1). This conversion requires BH4, and deficiencies in either the cofactor or the enzyme PAH can result in phenylketonuria. Additionally, the inability to synthesize tyrosine will make this a conditionally essential amino acid and potentially negatively impact the synthesis of downstream compounds illustrated in figure 4.2.

Tyrosine can be produced from phenylalanine metabolism and is required for the production of melanin and the catecholamines. Deficiencies can occur at several different locations in the pathway and result in albinism (tyrosinase), alkaptonuria (homogentisate oxidase), or tyrosinemia, which can manifest due to deficiencies in several enzymes along the pathway (figure 4.1).

Transaminase with glutamate bidirectional arrow α-ketoglutarate. Transaminase arrow phenylpyruvate arrow enzyme dehydrogenase with NADP+ arrow NADPH to phenyllactate. Phenylpyruvate dotted arrow text multiple steps to phenylacetate. Transaminase arrow phenylalanine arrow enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase with O2 arrow H2O and BH4 arrow BH2 to tyrosine arrow enzyme tyrosinase to dopaquinone dotted arrow text multiple steps to melanin. Tyrosine dotted arrow text multiple steps to triiodothyronine (T3) thyroxine (T4). BH2 arrow enzyme dihydrobiopterin reductase with NADPH arrow NADP+ to BH4. GTP arrow enzyme GTP-cyclohydrolase with H2O arrow formate to dihydroneopterin triphosphate dotted arrow text multiple steps to BH4.
Figure 4.1: Metabolism of phenylalanine requires BH4 and also produces tyrosine. Deficiencies in cofactor or phenylalanine hydroxylase can result in phenylketonuria.

Phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is one of the more common amino acid metabolic disorders and is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. There are no symptoms of untreated phenylketonuria in the first months of life. Therefore newborn screening is essential for diagnosis and initiation of treatment, which prevents the devastating effects of infantile hyperphenylalaninemia. The screening method detects elevated titers of the amino acid phenylalanine in the blood. A positive test result (Phe greater than 150 μmol/L) prompts the physician to begin a phenylalanine-restricted formula and requires a confirmatory quantitative Phe level.

Glycine

Glycine is a key compound that functions as an essential substrate for various pathways, including the folate cycle, nucleotide synthesis, and synthesis of porphyrins (heme), glutathione, and creatine.

Arginine

Arginine is a nonessential amino acid as it can be produced in the urea cycle. Deficiencies in the urea cycle can cause arginine to become conditionally essential. In these cases, management and supplementation are needed.

Tyrosine pathways seen in figure 8.1. Tyrosine bidirectional arrow enzyme transaminase with Glutamate bidirectional arrow α-ketoglutarate to ρ-hydroxyphenylpyruvate arrow ρ-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase with O2 arrow CO2 to homogentisate arrow enzyme homogentisate dioxygenase with O2 addition to maleylacetoacetate bidirectional arrow enzyme maleylacetoacetate isomerase to fumarylacetoacetate branched arrow enzyme fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase with H2O addition to acetoacetate and fumarate arrows text multiple steps to TCA. Homogentisate arrow text spontaneous to alkapton. Maleylacetoacetate and fumarylacetoacetate arrow text spontaneous succinylacetoacetate arrow text spontaneous and loss of CO2 to succinylacetone.
Figure 4.2: Tyrosine can be produced from phenylalanine metabolism and is required for the production of melanin and the catecholamines. Deficiencies can occur at several different locations in the pathway and result in albinism, alkaptonuria, or tyrosinemia.

Tryptophan

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is both ketogenic and glucogenic as it can be oxidized to produce alanine and acetyl-CoA. The ring structure can also be used to synthesize niacin, reducing the dietary requirement for this vitamin. Tryptophan metabolism to serotonin (and subsequently melatonin) requires BH4. Deficiencies here can lead to imbalances in these neurotransmitters (figure 4.3).

Tryptophan arrow with O2 arrow H2O, BH4 bidirectional arrow BH2, and enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase to 5-hydroxy-tryptophan arrow with CO2 loss and enzyme aromatic amino acid decarboxylase to serotonin (5-HT) arrow with acetyl-CoA arrow CoA and enzyme serotonin N-acetyltransferase to N-acetyl-5-HT arrow with SAM arrow SAH and enzyme Hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase to melatonin. Tryptophan arrow niacin. Serotonin (5-HT) arrow 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. BH2 arrow with NADPH arrow NADP+ and enzyme dihydrobiopterin reductase to BH4.
Figure 4.3: Metabolism of tryptophan to melatonin.

Glutamate

Glutamate plays many key roles in amino acid metabolism and provides substrates for GABA and glutathione synthesis (figure 4.4). Additionally, glutamate plays a role in nitrogen movement within the body. Glutamate can be deaminated by glutamate dehydrogenase to yield α-ketoglutarate. This can enter directly into the TCA cycle or be transaminated (figure 4.4). Additionally, glutamate can be used to fix or free ammonium to generate glutamine—one of the essential, nontoxic carriers of ammonia.

Glutamate arrow γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with CO2 loss bidirectional arrow enzyme GABA transaminase with glutamate bidirectional arrow α-ketoglutarate to succinic semialdehyde arrow enzyme succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase with NAD+ arrow NADH to succinate. Glutamate bidirectional arrow enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase-1 with H2O bidirectional arrow NH4+ and NAD+ bidirectional arrow NADH to α-ketoglutarate arrow enzyme α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase with NAD+ arrow NADH and CoA arrow CO2 to succinyl-CoA arrow enzyme succinyl-coA synthetase with Pi addition, GDP bidirectional arrow GTP and loss of CoA to succinate. Glutamate arrow enzyme glutamine synthetase with NH4+ arrow H2O, ATP arrow ADP, and loss of Pi to glutamine arrow enzyme glutaminase with H2O arrow NH4+ to glutamate. Glutamate arrow enzyme N-acetylglutamate synthase with acetyl-CoA arrow CoA to N-acetylglutamate arrow enzyme hydrolase with H2O arrow acetate to glutamate. N-acetylglutamate dotted arrow urea cycle (regulation)
Figure 4.4: Glutamate metabolism as it interfaces with nitrogen transport and synthesis of GABA.

Isoleucine, leucine, and valine (branched-chain amino acids)

Oxidation of isoleucine, leucine, and valine, collectively described as branched-chain amino acids, occurs in all tissues and is a key fuel source for skeletal muscle. As these amino acids are approximately 25 percent of the amino acid pool, they provide both energy and available substrate to replenish the TCA cycle. The initial step in their metabolism, like all amino acids, is the transamination to generate a keto-acid. These compounds then undergo oxidative decarboxylation by a multiunit enzyme similar to the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with similar cofactor requirements, and the remaining carbons can enter the TCA cycle.

Maple syrup urine disease

Deficiencies in the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids can result in the diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). With an incidence of 1 in 100,000, MSUD is rare even among the inborn errors of metabolism. However, the distinct sweet odor of the patient’s urine, similar to that of maple syrup, distinguishes this condition as one of the more recognizable metabolic disorders. It is caused by deficient oxidative decarboxylation of α-keto acid metabolites of isoleucine, leucine, and valine. Affected infants can become symptomatic during the first days of life, with poor feeding, lethargy, seizures, and occasionally coma. Milder forms of MSUD may present later in life, with developmental delays and intellectual disability. Maple syrup urine disease is primarily treated by diet but also by avoiding circumstances that increase catabolism, such as high fever and dehydration. If a metabolic crisis occurs, emergency treatment in a hospital is necessary to stabilize the patient.

Methionine

Methionine is an essential amino acid with a complex metabolism of clinical importance. Its metabolism interfaces with the folate cycle, cobalamin remethylation, and the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). Enzymatic or cofactor deficiencies can result in elevated homocysteine levels (hyperhomocysteinemia), which can have negative impacts systemically. Methionine, required for the synthesis of SAM, can be obtained from the diet or produced from remethylation of homocysteine using vitamin B12.

Leucine bidirectional arrow enzyme transaminase with α-ketoglutarate bidirectional arrow glutamate to α-ketoisocaproate arrow enzyme BCKAD with NAD+ arrow NADH and CoA arrow CO2 to isovaleryl-CoA arrow enzyme isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase with NAD+ arrow NADH to β-methylcrotonyl-CoA arrow enzyme β-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase with HCO3 addition and ATP arrow ADP to β-methylglutaconyl-CoA arrow enzyme β-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase to °-hydroxy-β-methylglutaconyl-CoA (HMG-CoA) arrows enzyme HMG-CoA lyase to acetoacetate and acetyl CoA arrow TCA. Isoleucine bidirectional arrow enzyme transaminase with α-ketoglutarate bidirectional arrow glutamate to α-keto-β-methylglutarate arrow enzyme BCKAD with CoA arrow CO2 and NAD+ arrow NADH to α-methylbutyryl-CoA arrow with loss of acetyl-CoA to propionyl-CoA arrow enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase with HCO3 addition and ATP arrow ADP to methylmalonyl CoA arrow enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase to succinyl-CoA arrow TCA. Valine bidirectional arrow enzyme transaminase with α-ketoglutarate bidirectional arrow glutamate to α-ketoisovalerate arrow enzyme BCKAD with CoA arrow CO2 and NAD+ arrow NADH to isobutyryl-CoA arrow propionyl-CoA. Odd chain fatty acyl CoA arrow text last three carbons only to propionyl CoA
Figure 4.5: Metabolism of branched-chain amino acids. Deficiencies in branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKAD) can result in the presentation of maple syrup urine disease.

Initially, methionine will condense with ATP to form SAM. SAM has a charged methyl group, which can be transferred to many different acceptor molecules; this step is considered irreversible as the amount of energy released is substantial. SAM is used by many biological pathways to donate methyl groups, and it is in consistent demand. After SAM loses its methyl group, the resulting compound, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), is hydrolyzed to homocysteine and adenosine. Homocysteine, generated from this reaction, can either be remethylated in a reaction using both folate and cobalamin to resynthesize methionine or can be used for the synthesis of cysteine (figure 4.6).

Remethylation of homocysteine

Homocysteine can be converted back into methionine by using both methyl-FH4 and vitamin B12. This is the only reaction in which methyl-FH4 can donate the methyl group. In this reaction, the methyl group from FH4 is transferred to cobalamin associated with homocysteine methyltransferase. Homocysteine receives the methyl group from this charged cobalamin cofactor, and methionine is regenerated. If homocysteine methyltransferase is defective, or if vitamin B12 or FH4 levels are insufficient, homocysteine will accumulate. Elevated homocysteine levels have been linked to cardiovascular and neurologic diseases. A consequence of vitamin B12 deficiency is the accumulation of methyl-FH4 and a decrease in other folate derivatives. This is known as the methyl-trap hypothesis; because of the B12 deficiency, most of the carbons in the FH4 pool are trapped in the methyl-FH4 form, which is the most stable. The carbons cannot be released from the folate because the one reaction in which they participate cannot occur due to the B12 deficiency. This leads to a functional folate deficiency, even though total levels of folate are normal.

A folate deficiency (whether functional or actual) leads to megaloblastic anemia caused by an inability of blood cell precursors to synthesize DNA and, therefore, to divide. This leads to large, partially replicated cells being released into the blood to attempt to replenish the cells that have died. Folate deficiencies also have been linked to an increased incidence of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in mothers who become pregnant while folate deficient.

Transsulfuration pathway

Further metabolism of homocysteine provides the sulfur atom for the synthesis of cysteine. In this two-step process, homocysteine first reacts with serine to form cystathionine. This is followed by cleavage of cystathionine, which yields cysteine and α-ketobutyrate. The first reaction in this sequence, catalyzed by cystathionine β-synthase, is inhibited by cysteine. Thus, methionine, via homocysteine, is not used for cysteine synthesis unless the levels of cysteine in the body are lower than required for its metabolic functions. An adequate dietary supply of cysteine, therefore, can “spare” (or reduce) the dietary requirement for methionine (figure 4.6).

Circular diagram homocysteine arrow enzyme homocysteine methyltransferase with N5-menthyl-THF arrow THF to methionine arrow enzyme methionine adenosyltransferase with ATP arrow 3 Pi to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) arrow enzyme methyltransferases with loss of CH3 (used for methylation) to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) arrow enzyme S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase to adenosine dotted arrow to nucleotide salvage. Homocysteine arrow enzyme cystathionine β-synthase with serine addition to cystathionine arrow enzyme cystathionine ᵞ-lyase with loss of α-ketobutyrate to cysteine arrow enzyme cysteine dioxygenase with O2 addition to cysteine sulfinate arrow enzyme cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase with loss of CO2 to hypotaurine arrow enzyme hypotaurine dehydrogenase with NAD+ arrow NADH to taurine arrow bile salts. Cysteine sulfinate bidirectional arrow enzyme transaminase with α-ketoglutarate bidirectional arrow glutamate to β-sulfinylpyruvate arrow with loss of sulfite to pyruvate. Sulfite arrow enzyme sulfite oxidase to sulfate. Threonine arrow enzyme threonine dehydratase with loss of NH4+ and H2O to α-ketobutyrate dotted arrow text (in mitochondrial matrix) to succinyl-CoA dotted arrow TCA. Cysteine dotted arrow glutathione, coenzyme A
Figure 4.6: Metabolism of methionine. Remethylation and transsulfuration of homocysteine are illustrated. Cofactor or enzymatic deficiencies can result in an elevation of homocysteine.

Consequences of elevated homocysteine

Homocysteine levels can accumulate in several ways, which are related to both folic acid and vitamin B12 metabolism. As SAM is constantly being used as a methyl donor, this results in consistent production of SAH. Consequently, this leads to the constant production of homocysteine. The homocysteine produced can be either remethylated to methionine or condensed with serine to form cystathionine. The major pathway of homocysteine metabolism is remethylation by N 5-methyl-FH4, which requires vitamin B12. The liver also contains a second pathway in which betaine (a degradation product of choline) can donate a methyl group to homocysteine to form methionine, but this is a minor pathway. The conversion of homocysteine to cystathionine requires pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). Thus, if an individual is deficient in vitamin B12, the conversion of homocysteine to methionine by the major route is inhibited. This directs homocysteine to produce cystathionine, which eventually produces cysteine. Homocysteine also accumulates in the blood if a mutation is present in the enzyme that converts N 5,N10-methylene-FH4 to N 5-methyl-FH4. When this occurs, the levels of N 5-methyl-FH4 are too low to allow homocysteine to be converted to methionine. The loss of this pathway, coupled with the feedback inhibition by cysteine on cystathionine formation, also leads to elevated homocysteine levels in the blood.

A third way in which serum homocysteine levels can be elevated is by a mutated cystathionine β-synthase or a deficiency in vitamin B6, the required cofactor for that enzyme. These defects block the ability of homocysteine to be converted to cystathionine, and the homocysteine that does accumulate cannot all be accommodated by conversion to methionine. Thus, an accumulation of homocysteine results.

References and resources

Text

Ferrier, D. R., ed. Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 7th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2017,  Chapter 20: Amino Acid Degradation and Synthesis, Chapter 21: Conversion of Amino Acids to Specialized Products.

Lieberman, M., and A. Peet, eds. Marks’ Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach, 5th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2018, Chapter 37: Synthesis and Degradation of Amino Acids, Chapter 39: Tetrahydrofolate, Vitamin B12, and S-Adenosylmethionine.

Le, T., and V. Bhushan. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, 29th ed. New York: McGraw Hill Education, 2018, 69, 83–85.

Figures

Figure 4.1: Metabolism of phenylalanine requires BH4 and also produces tyrosine. Grey, Kindred. “Metabolism of phenylalanine requires BH4 and also produces tyrosine. Deficiencies in cofactor or phenylalanine hydroxylase can result in phenylketonuria.” 2021, https://archive.org/details/4.1_20210819. CC BY 4.0.

Figure 4.2: Tyrosine can be produced from phenylalanine metabolism and is required for the production of melanin and catecholamines. Grey, Kindred. “Tyrosine can be produced from phenylalanine metabolism and is required for the production of melanin and the catecholamines. Deficiencies can occur at several different locations in the pathway and result in albinism, alkaptonuria or tyrosinemia.” 2021, https://archive.org/details/4.2_20210819CC BY 4.0.

Figure 4.3: Metabolism of tryptophan to melatonin. Grey, Kindred. “Metabolism of Tryptophan to Melatonin.” 2021, https://archive.org/details/4.3_20210819CC BY 4.0.

Figure 4.4: Glutamate metabolism as it interfaces with nitrogen transport and synthesis of GABA. Grey, Kindred. “Glutamate metabolism as it interfaces with nitrogen transport and synthesis of GABA.” 2021, https://archive.org/details/4.4_20210819CC BY 4.0.

Figure 4.5: Metabolism of branched-chain amino acids. Grey, Kindred. “Metabolism of branched chain amino acids. Deficiencies in BCKAD can result in the presentation of Maple Syrup Urine Disease.” 2021, https://archive.org/details/4.5_20210819CC BY 4.0.

 

 

Figure 4.6: Metabolism of methionine. Grey, Kindred. “Metabolism of methionine. Remethylation and transsulfuration of homocysteine are illustrated. Cofactor or enzymatic deficiencies can result in an elevation of homocysteine.” 2021, https://archive.org/details/4.6_20210819CC BY 4.0.

 

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