Final answer:
The degradation of AMP to urate proceeds via the conversion of AMP to IMP, then to inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and finally to urate, primarily catalyzed by xanthine oxidase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The degradation of AMP to urate involves several enzymatic steps. Here is the ordered process:
- AMP is first converted to inosine monophosphate (IMP) by the enzyme adenylosuccinate synthetase, with the release of pyrophosphate (PPi).
- IMP is then converted to inosine by the action of the enzyme IMP dehydrogenase.
- Inosine is then degraded to hypoxanthine, releasing a ribose molecule.
- Hypoxanthine is further oxidized to xanthine by xanthine oxidase.
- Finally, xanthine is converted to urate, also by xanthine oxidase.
Urate is then eliminated from the body through the urine. Disorders such as Lesch-Nyhan syndrome can disrupt this process due to the lack of Hypoxanthine Guanine Phospho Ribosyl Transferase (HGPRT), leading to the accumulation of uric acid.