The Formation of Urea Flashcards

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Why can’t the body store extra amino acids?

There is no storage for amino acids, so the liver breaks them down.

What is deamination?

It is when the liver removes the amino group (–NH2) from an amino acid.

What toxic substance is made during deamination?

Ammonia, which is very poisonous to cells.

Why is ammonia changed into urea?

Urea is much less toxic, so it can travel safely in the blood.

Where is urea made in the body?

In the liver, from ammonia produced by deamination.

How does urea reach the kidneys?

It is carried from the liver to the kidneys in the blood plasma.

How is urea removed from the body?

The kidneys filter it from the blood and it leaves in the urine.

What happens to the rest of the amino acid after deamination?

The rest (a keto acid) is used in respiration or turned into glycogen or fat.

Name the two main products of deamination of an amino acid.

Ammonia and a keto acid (the carbon skeleton).

How does a high-protein diet affect urea formation?

It causes more deamination, so more urea is made.