Question

The nitrogen removed from an amino acid generates ammonia, which is converted to ________ and excreted in the urine

Answer 1

Ammonia, produced from the deamination of amino acids, is highly toxic and is converted into urea in the liver. Urea is then excreted in the urine by mammals, including humans, as part of the urea cycle to maintain nitrogen balance and prevent toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nitrogen removed from an amino acid generates ammonia, which is then converted to urea and excreted in the urine. When proteins are broken down into amino acids, they undergo deamination, where the nitrogen-containing amino groups are removed and form ammonia (NH3), which is converted into the less toxic compound, urea, primarily in the liver. This process is vital for detoxifying ammonia, and the urea produced is then excreted by the kidneys. Mammals, including humans, excrete primarily urea, with small amounts of ammonium ion (NH4+), through urine. This urea formation and excretion is part of the urea cycle, an efficient system to remove nitrogenous wastes from the body, which is essential for maintaining the body's nitrogen balance and preventing the accumulation of toxic levels of ammonia.

Answer 2

The correct answer is urea.

Urea is formed from the deamination (removal of amine group) of amino acids producing a highly toxic ammonia. Ammonia will then join carbamyl phosphate to form citrulline. Citrulline will then cycle through the urea cycle until it forms arginine. Arginine then will be broken down to ornithine and urea. Urea is excreted in the urine and ornithine is used to replenish citrulline.