Amino interconversions

The thermal acid- or base-catalyzed interconversion of 5-amino-l-phenyltriazoles (413) and 5-anilinotriazoles (415) was discovered by Dimroth. It is an example of a general class of heterocyclic rearrangements (416 417) now known by the name Dimroth rearrange-... 

Tautomeric interconversions of 1,3-diimino-isoindolenine and its nitro and amino derivatives have been studied theoretically by the AMI method (97MI9). 

In tautomeric equilibria of some functionalized pyrimidine derivatives, such as isocytosine 52 (R = H) [77ZN(C)894] or pseudocytidine 52 (R = furanosyl) (99MI1), the potentially tautomeric oxo and amino groups are practically not involved, and only annular tautomeric interconversions N(1)H N(3)H are ob-... 

This thiol-disulfide interconversion is a key part of numerous biological processes. WeTJ see in Chapter 26, for instance, that disulfide formation is involved in defining the structure and three-dimensional conformations of proteins, where disulfide "bridges" often form cross-links between q steine amino acid units in the protein chains. Disulfide formation is also involved in the process by which cells protect themselves from oxidative degradation. A cellular component called glutathione removes potentially harmful oxidants and is itself oxidized to glutathione disulfide in the process. Reduction back to the thiol requires the coenzyme flavin adenine dinucleotide (reduced), abbreviated FADH2. 

The citric acid cycle is the final common pathway for the aerobic oxidation of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein because glucose, fatty acids, and most amino acids are metabolized to acetyl-CoA or intermediates of the cycle. It also has a central role in gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis, and interconversion of amino acids. Many of these processes occur in most tissues, but the hver is the only tissue in which all occur to a significant extent. The repercussions are therefore profound when, for example, large numbers of hepatic cells are damaged as in acute hepatitis or replaced by connective tissue (as in cirrhosis). Very few, if any, genetic abnormalities of citric acid cycle enzymes have been reported such ab-normahties would be incompatible with life or normal development. 

The citric acid cycle is not only a pathway for oxidation of two-carbon units—it is also a major pathway for interconversion of metabolites arising from transamination and deamination of amino acids. It also provides the substtates for amino acid synthesis by transamination, as well as for gluconeogenesis and fatty acid synthesis. Because it fimctions in both oxidative and synthetic processes, it is amphibolic (Figure 16—4). 

The citric acid cycle is amphibolic, since in addition to oxidation it is important in the provision of carbon skeletons for gluconeogenesis, fatty acid synthesis, and interconversion of amino acids. 

The photochemistry of 3-amino- <2002JOC6253> and some 3-iV-alkylamino-5-perfluoroalkyl-l,2,4-oxadiazoles <2004JOC4108> was investigated. The latter reaction led to 5-perfluoroalkyl-l,3,4-oxadiazoles followed eventually by their conversion into 5-perfluoroalkyl-l,2,4-triazoles. 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles were also obtained by photochemical interconversion of 3-acylamino-l,2,5-oxadiazole derivatives. Mechanisms of these reactions were proposed <2004JOC4108>. Examples of these interconversions are shown in Scheme 37. 

Further complications may arise with the larger amino acids such as isoleucine, where the R side-chain itself contains a chiral carbon atom [R = CH3CH2C H(CH)3, where the asterisk denotes the second chiral centre]. This molecule is an example of a diastereomer - a molecule with more than one chiral centre. Diastereomers have different physical and chemical properties, and their interconversion is more complicated, and is termed epimerization. 

The interconversion of fructose-6-phosphate and fructose-1,6 bis phosphate is a control point in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenesis is a pathway which allows carbon atoms from substrates such as lactate, glycerol and some amino acids to be used for the synthesis of glucose, so it is in effect physiologically the opposite of... 

These one-carbon groups, which are required for the synthesis of purines, thymidine nucleotides and for the interconversion some amino acids, are attached to THF at nitrogen-5 (N5), nitrogen-10 (N10) or both N5and N10. Active forms of folate are derived metabolically from THF so a deficiency of the parent compound will affect a number of pathways which use any form of THF. 

In addition to the common pathways, glycolysis and the TCA cycle, the liver is involved with the pentose phosphate pathway regulation of blood glucose concentration via glycogen turnover and gluconeogenesis interconversion of monosaccharides lipid syntheses lipoprotein formation ketogenesis bile acid and bile salt formation phase I and phase II reactions for detoxification of waste compounds haem synthesis and degradation synthesis of non-essential amino acids and urea synthesis. 

Humans have a limited capacity to synthesize amino acids de novo, but extensive interconversions can occur. Those amino acids which cannot be formed within the body and must be supplied by the diet are called essential . Members of this group, which includes the branched chain amino acids leucine and valine, and also methionine and phenylalanine, are all dietary requirements. Such essential amino acids may be chemically converted, mainly in the liver, into the non-essential amino acids. The term non-essential does not equate with not biochemically important but simply means they are not strict dietary components. 

An example of an amino acid interconversion that has pathological significance is the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to form tyrosine in the liver (Figure 6.4). 

This rotamer model for the fluorescence decay of an aromatic amino acid also predicts that the amplitudes of the kinetic components should correspond to the ground-state rotamer populations, provided that interconversion... 

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