deamination

Amino group excision

Deamination is the removal of an amino group from a molecule, typically in biochemistry.

The liver deaminates amino acids as part of protein metabolism, converting the nitrogen to urea for excretion.

In genetics, deamination of DNA bases can cause mutations: Spontaneous deamination of cytosine produces uracil.

amino-acids

glutamate

Excitatory neural transmitter

aspartateAcidic amino acid
alanineBasic amino acid
serineProtein-forming amino acid

threonine · cysteine · asparagine · glutamine · histidine · lysine · arginine · methionine · phenylalanine · tyrosine

nucleotides

cytosine

Pyrimidine nucleobase in genetics

adeninePurine nucleobase in DNA
guaninePurine nucleobase in DNA
uracilRNA pyrimidine nucleobase

xanthine · DNA damage · mutagenesis · point mutation · 5-methylcytosine · thymine · DNA repair · nucleoside · purine · pyrimidine

nitrogen-metabolism

urea

Nitrogenous metabolic waste compound

glutamineEssential amino acid
citrullineUrea cycle amino acid
carbamoyl phosphateActivated nitrogen donor compound

hepatic · liver · kidney · uric acid · ammonium

biochemistry

hydrolysis

Water-induced bond cleavage

hydrolaseEnzyme cleaving via water
enzymaticInvolving biological catalysts
cofactorsEnzyme-assisting molecules

substrate · product

ecological

decomposition

Breakdown into simpler parts

mineralizationConversion to mineral form
nitrogen cycleBiogeochemical element circulation
soil bacteriaMicroorganisms inhabiting dirt

decomposers · organic matter · microbial · ecosystem · humus

Opposites

biochemical direction

deaminationamination

Adding nitrogen-hydrogen groups

reductive amination · transamination · nitrogen fixation

Family

ammonia, amino acid, amino, amine, amino acids, amines, transaminase, transamination, amination

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