Amino acid degradation overview

A large number of metabolic pathways are available for amino acid degradation, and an overview of these is presented here. Further details are given on pp. 414 and 415. 

We ll begin a study of biological reactions with a general overview of metabolism and then focus specifically on amino acids, the fundamental building blocks from which the estimated 500,000 or so proteins in our bodies are made. We ll see in this chapter both how amino acids are biosynthesized for incorporation into proteins and how they are ultimately degraded when proteins are broken down. 

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