Q 11-11-35 E

Question


One step in the urea cycle for ridding the body of ammonia is the conversion of argininosuccinate to the amino acid arginine plus fumarate. Propose a mechanism for the reaction, and show the structure of arginine.



Step-by-Step Solution

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Answer


The mechanism for the reaction and the structure of arginine is,



1Urea cycle

The urea cycle is a metabolic pathway that helps remove ammonia from the blood and forms urea, and this urea is excreted as urine. Arginine is synthesized as an intermediate in this cycle.

2The mechanism of the reaction and the structure of arginine


A base removes a proton from the argininosuccinate in the given reaction and yields an E1cB carbanion intermediate. The arginine (the protonated leaving groups) departs from the intermediate and forms fumarate.



                                     Mechanism of the reaction