Question

multiple choice question
what must occur before an amino acid can be burned as fuel or used to produce glucose?

• ketogenesis
• deamination
• amination
• beta oxidation

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Ketogenesis: The process of producing ketone bodies, not related to preparing amino acids for fuel or glucose production.
• Deamination: Involves the removal of the amino group from an amino acid. This step is necessary before an amino acid can be used for energy (burned as fuel) or converted to glucose, as the amino group must be removed to allow the carbon skeleton to enter metabolic pathways.
• Amination: The addition of an amino group, which is the opposite of what is needed for using amino acids as fuel or for glucose production.
• Beta oxidation: The breakdown of fatty acids, not amino acids.

So, deamination is the process that must occur before an amino acid can be burned as fuel or used to produce glucose.

Answer:

B. Deamination