lysine catabolic process

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of lysine, 2,6-diaminohexanoic acid. [GOC:go_curators]

Lysine catabolism is a complex metabolic pathway that breaks down the amino acid lysine into various intermediates that can be used for energy production or other biosynthetic processes. The pathway is initiated by the enzyme lysine-ketoglutarate reductase, which converts lysine to α-aminoadipate. This reaction is followed by a series of enzymatic steps that ultimately lead to the formation of acetyl-CoA and α-ketoglutarate.

The first step in the pathway involves the removal of the amino group from lysine by lysine-ketoglutarate reductase. This reaction produces α-aminoadipate and α-ketoglutarate. α-aminoadipate is then decarboxylated by α-aminoadipate decarboxylase to form δ-aminovalerate. δ-aminovalerate is further oxidized to glutarate by δ-aminovalerate dehydrogenase. Glutarate is then converted to α-ketoglutarate by a series of enzymatic steps, including succinyl-CoA synthetase and succinyl-CoA dehydrogenase.

The acetyl-CoA produced from lysine catabolism can be used for energy production in the citric acid cycle. α-ketoglutarate can also be used as a precursor for the biosynthesis of various amino acids, including glutamate and proline.

The lysine catabolic pathway is tightly regulated to ensure that the breakdown of lysine is balanced with the needs of the organism. The pathway is activated in times of nutrient deprivation, when the organism needs to break down amino acids for energy production. The pathway is also regulated by the levels of various metabolites, including lysine, α-ketoglutarate, and acetyl-CoA.'
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Proteins (4)

Compounds (3)