Amino Acids

[Madgirl2]

Can anyone tell me if amino acids can be metabolised to molecules which can be oxidised by Kreb's cycle?

[aka estie]

Yes. Amino acids are deaminated (the amino group is removed), and their carbon chains are metabolized and used as reactants in the steps of aerobic respiration. For example, alanine is converted to pyruvate, glutamate to a-ketoglutarate, and aspartate to oxaloacetate.