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Oxaloacetate makes _______________ which eventually makes the amino acids Serine, Glycine, Cysteine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, and Tryptophan.

a) Alpha-ketoglutarate
b) Pyruvate
c) Succinate
d) Fumarate

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Oxaloacetate is involved in the biosynthesis of the amino acids Serine, Glycine, Cysteine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, and Tryptophan by being converted to aspartate. Aspartate subsequently participates in metabolic pathways producing these amino acids. However, the references provided do not directly answer the question; the closest connection is via the intermediary role of aspartate derived from oxaloacetate.

Step-by-step explanation:

Oxaloacetate is a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle and has a significant role in both the metabolism of amino acids and gluconeogenesis. The amino acids Serine, Glycine, Cysteine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, and Tryptophan can be synthesized from intermediates that derived from oxaloacetate and other metabolic pathways.

In this case, oxaloacetate contributes to the biosynthesis of amino acids by being converted into aspartate; aspartate then acts as a precursor to several amino acids. A possible connection between oxaloacetate and the listed amino acids is that oxaloacetate can be transaminated to form aspartate, which can then be used to generate these amino acids. However, the direct answer to the question is not explicitly provided in the reference materials given. The closest connection is the conversion of oxaloacetate to aspartate, which is involved in amino acid metabolism.

The processing of the carbon skeleton of amino acids involves α-Ketoacids, which are after transamination or oxidative deamination. For instance, in reaction to the transamination of alanine, pyruvate is left, and upon oxidative deamination of glutamate, α-ketoglutarate is left.