Transamination and Oxidative Deamination
Indicate whether each of the following represents a transamination or an oxidative deamination:
a. Glutamate is converted to α-ketoglutarate and NH_4^+.
b. Alanine and α-ketoglutarate react to form pyruvate and glutamate.
a. Oxidative deamination occurs when the —NH_3^+ group in glutamate is removed as an ammonium ion, NH_4^+.
b. Transamination occurs when an amino group is transferred from an amino acid to an α-keto acid such as α-ketoglutarate.