Tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, and lysine form acetyl CoA or acetoacetyl CoA directly, without pyruvate serving as an intermediate. As noted earlier, phenylalanine and tyrosine also give rise to acetoacetate during their catabolism (see Fig. 20.7). Therefore, there are a total of six partly or wholly ketogenic amino acids.
1.
Tryptophan: This amino acid is both glucogenic and ketogenic, because its catabolism yields alanine and acetoacetyl CoA (Fig. 20.10). [Note: Quinolinate from tryptophan catabolism is used in the synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ([NAD], see p. 383).] 2.
Leucine: This amino acid is exclusively ketogenic, because its catabolism yields acetyl CoA and acetoacetate (Fig. 20.11). The first two reactions in the catabolism of leucine and the other BCAA, isoleucine and valine, are catalyzed by enzymes that use all three BCAA (or their derivatives) as substrates (see H. below).
3.
Isoleucine: This amino acid is both ketogenic and glucogenic, because its metabolism yields acetyl CoA and propionyl CoA.
4.
Lysine: This amino acid is exclusively ketogenic and is unusual in that neither of its amino groups undergoes transamination as the first step in catabolism. Lysine is ultimately converted to acetoacetyl CoA.
H. Branched-chain amino acid degradation
The BCAA isoleucine, leucine, and valine are essential amino acids. In contrast to other amino acids, they are catabolized primarily by the peripheral tissues (particularly muscle), rather than by the liver. Because these three amino acids have a similar route of degradation, it is convenient to describe them as a group (see Fig. 20.11).
1.
Transamination: Transfer of the amino groups of all three BCAA to α ketoglutarate is catalyzed by a single, vitamin B6–requiring enzyme, branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase, that is expressed primarily in skeletal muscle.
2.
Oxidative decarboxylation: Removal of the carboxyl group of the α-keto acids derived from leucine, valine, and isoleucine is catalyzed by a single multienzyme complex, branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKD) complex. This complex uses thiamine pyrophosphate, lipoic acid, oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), NAD+, and CoA as its coenzymes and produces NADH. [Note: This reaction is similar to the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA by the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex (see p. 109) and α-ketoglutarate to succinyl CoA by the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (see p. 112). The dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (Enzyme 3, or E3) component is identical in all three complexes.] 3.
Dehydrogenations: Oxidation of the products formed in the BCKD reaction produces α-β-unsaturated acyl CoA derivatives and FADH2. These reactions are analogous to the FAD-linked dehydrogenation in the β-oxidation of fatty acids (see p. 192). [Note: Deficiency in the dehydrogenase specific for isovaleryl CoA causes neurologic problems and is associated with a “sweaty feet” odor in body fluids.] 4.