Question

Removal of amino group of amino acid to transform it into keto acid is called

• A. Transamination
• B. Ammonification
• C. Deamination
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C Deamination

Urea is the major excretory product. Its accumulation may cause toxicity so it needs to be thrown out of the body by deamination. Deamination is the removal of an amine group from a molecule. Enzymes that catalyse this reaction are called deaminases. In the human body, deamination takes place in the liver. The amino group is removed from the amino acid and converted to ammonia. Ammonia is toxic to the human system and enzymes convert it to urea or uric acid by addition of carbon dioxide molecules in the urea cycle, which also takes place in the liver. Urea and uric acid is excreted in urine.

so, the correct answer is 'Deamination'