(N/A) Transamination is a biochemical reaction that transfers an amino group from an amino acid to a keto acid. This process is catalyzed by enzymes known as transaminases.
The general reaction is represented as:
$R_1-CH(NH_3^+)-COO^- + R_2-C(=O)-COO^- \xrightarrow{\text{Transaminase}} R_1-C(=O)-COO^- + R_2-CH(NH_3^+)-COO^-$
In this reaction:
$1$. An amino acid $(R_1-CH(NH_3^+)-COO^-)$ reacts with a keto acid $(R_2-C(=O)-COO^-)$.
$2$. The enzyme transaminase facilitates the transfer of the amino group $(-NH_3^+)$ from the first amino acid to the keto acid.
$3$. As a result,the original amino acid is converted into a new keto acid $(R_1-C(=O)-COO^-)$,and the original keto acid is converted into a new amino acid $(R_2-CH(NH_3^+)-COO^-)$.
$4$. This mechanism is crucial for the synthesis of non-essential amino acids in plants and animals.