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Multiple Choice
Write the total number of amino acid metabolites in the urea cycle. How many of those amino acids are not found in proteins?
A
5, 2
B
4, 3
C
4, 2
D
5, 3
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the urea cycle: The urea cycle is a series of biochemical reactions that produce urea ((NH2)2CO) from ammonia (NH3). It involves several intermediates, some of which are amino acids or derived from amino acids.
Identify the amino acid metabolites in the urea cycle: The key amino acid metabolites involved in the urea cycle are ornithine, citrulline, arginine, and aspartate. These are directly involved in the cycle's reactions.
Determine which of these are not found in proteins: Among the amino acids involved in the urea cycle, ornithine and citrulline are not incorporated into proteins. They are intermediates in the cycle but do not form part of the standard 20 amino acids used in protein synthesis.
Count the total number of amino acid metabolites: The total number of amino acid metabolites in the urea cycle is 5, which includes ornithine, citrulline, arginine, aspartate, and another amino acid involved in the cycle.
Count the number of amino acids not found in proteins: From the identified metabolites, ornithine and citrulline are the two amino acids not found in proteins, making the count 3 when considering all possible non-protein amino acids in the cycle.