Amino acid metabolism

• In animals, amino acids can undergo oxidative degradation in 3 different metabolic ways:-

a) During the normal synthesis and degradation of cellular proteins.

b) When a diet is rich in protein and amino acids are ingested in excess.

c) During starvation in the diabetes mellitus, when carbohydrate are either unavailable or not properly utilized.

a) Ammonotelic animals : As ammonia in most aquatic vertebrates and larva of amphibian.

b) Ureotelic animals : As urea in terrestrial vertebrates like sharks and humans

c) Uricotelic animals ; Uric acid in birds and reptiles.