I need help on a biochem study question. Amino acids can be categorized accordin

Question

I need help on a biochem study question.

Amino acids can be categorized according to the body's ability to synthesize them. Both essential and nonessential amino acids are necessary for life, but the human body is unable to synthesize some amino acids.

Different pathways enable synthesis of nonessential amino acids from five precursors: pyruvate, 3-phosphoglycerate, oxaloacetate, -ketoglutarate, and phenylalanine. Many of these pathways include a process called transamination, which is a reaction between an amino acid and an -keto acid.

Essential amino acids must be obtained from the diet, whereas nonessential amino acids can be synthesized in the body. Which of the following statements about essential and nonessential amino acids are true?

Check all that apply.

The synthesis of essential amino acids is generally completed in fewer steps than for nonessential amino acids. Nonessential amino acids are synthesized by the human body. Meat and eggs have incomplete amino acids and must be eaten with complementary sources of protein. Many of the nonessential amino acids are derived from other amino acids. Humans obtain phenylalanine from their diet. About half of the 20 amino acids must be acquired from food. Serine cannot be synthesized in the human body.

Explanation / Answer

a. The synthesis of essential amino acids is generally completed in fewer steps than for nonessential amino acids ------> FALSE (The synthesis of non-essential amino acids is generally completed in fewer steps than for essential amino acid)

b. Nonessential amino acids are synthesized by the human body. --------> TRUE

c. Meat and eggs have incomplete amino acids and must be eaten with complementary sources of protein. ----------------> FALSE (Meat and eggs have complete amino acids because they are animal based foods)

d. Many of the nonessential amino acids are derived from other amino acids. -------> TRUE (nonessential amino acids are synthesised from other amino acids)

e. Humans obtain phenylalanine from their diet. -------> TRUE (Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid)

f. About half of the 20 amino acids must be acquired from food. ------> TRUE (Our body cannot synthesize 9 out of 20 amino acids)

g. Serine cannot be synthesized in the human body. -----------> FALSE (Serine is non-essential amino acid)

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