Principles of Biochemistry, Volume 2 - A. Lehninger 1985

Bioenergetics and Metabolism
Biosynthesis of Carbohydrates in Animal Tissues
Most amino acids are classified as glucogenic

As we know from Chapter 19, the carbon skeletons of many Amino Acids derived from protein degradation are ultimately converted, entirely or in part, into Pyruvate or specific intermediates of The Citric Acid Cycle within the animal Organism. This makes the actual conversion of such amino acids into glucose and Glycogen possible, which is why they are termed glucogenic (Table 20-2). Examples include Alanine, glutamate, and aspartate, which yield pyruvate, a-ketoglutarate, and oxaloacetate, respectively, upon deamination; all of these compounds serve as precursors of phosphoenolpyruvate in the reactions described above. In Diabetes Mellitus, the net conversion of glucogenic amino acids into glucose occurs at a significantly accelerated rate compared to healthy individuals. Consequently, diabetic patients excrete large amounts of urea in their urine, generated by the deamination of glucogenic amino acids.

Class="center">Table 20-2 Glucogenic amino acids¹⁾

¹⁾ These amino acids serve as precursors for Blood glucose or Liver glycogen because they can be converted into pyruvate or Intermediates of the citric acid cycle. They are grouped here According to the point at which they enter the cycle. Leucine is unique in being completely unable to supply carbon for net glucose synthesis.