What is the Difference Between Transamination and Deamination?

Transamination and deamination are two types of chemical reactions involving amino acids. The key difference between them lies in the process and the purpose of these reactions:

Transamination:

• Involves the transfer of an amine group from one amino acid to another.
• Used to synthesize nonessential amino acids.
• Creates a new amino acid and keto acid (carbon skeleton) as a result of the transfer.
• Requires two molecules: amino acid and ketoacid.

Deamination:

• Involves the removal of the amine group from an amino acid as ammonia (NH3).
• The ammonia produced is toxic and can cause hyperammonemia if present in excessive amounts.
• The non-nitrogenous part of the amino acid undergoes recycling and oxidation to produce energy.
• Involves only one molecule: an amino acid.

In summary, transamination is a process where an amine group is transferred between amino acids for the synthesis of nonessential amino acids, while deamination is a process where an amine group is removed from an amino acid, producing toxic ammonia, which then needs to be converted into a less toxic form like urea for excretion.

Comparative Table: Transamination vs Deamination

Transamination and deamination are two types of chemical reactions involving amino acids. Here is a table comparing the differences between them:

In transamination, the amino group of an amino acid is exchanged with a keto group of another compound, while in deamination, an amino acid loses its amine group. Transamination is a biochemical reaction between two molecules responsible for the synthesis of nonessential amino acids, while deamination involves the removal of an amino group from an amino acid or other compounds, leading to the production of ammonia, which can be toxic at high levels.