text: The conversion of the amino acid glutamine to α-ketoglutarate takes place in two reaction steps:
  1. Hydrolysis of the amino group of glutamine yielding glutamate and ammonium.
  Catalyzing enzyme: glutaminase (EC 3.5.1.2)
  2. Glutamate can be excreted or can be further metabolized to α-ketoglutarate.
  For the conversion of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate three different reactions are possible:
  Catalyzing enzymes: 
  *glutamate dehydrogenase (GlDH), EC 1.4.1.2
  *glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), also called alanine transaminase (ALT), EC 2.6.1.2
  *glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), also called aspartate transaminase (AST), EC 2.6.1.1 (component of the malate aspartate shuttle)