Answer to Question #188890 in Microbiology for kei

Question

1. How do higher organisms obtain ammonia?

2. What is the fate of proteases after their role in protein digestion?

3. Why is arginine classified as an essential amino acid in humans when it is synthesized in the urea

Answer 1

1. When an organism excretes waste or dies, the nitrogen in its tissues is in the form of organic nitrogen (e.g. amino acids, DNA). Various fungi and prokaryotes then decompose the tissue and release inorganic nitrogen back into the ecosystem as ammonia in the process known as ammonification.

2. Once a protein source reaches your stomach, hydrochloric acid and enzymes called proteases break it down into smaller chains of amino acids.

3. Arginine plays an important role in cell division, wound healing, removing ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of hormones. It is a precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), making it important in the regulation of blood pressure.