Biology – Homeostasis in mammals | e-Consult

Deamination: Deamination is the removal of the amino group (-NH₂) from an amino acid. This process is catalyzed by enzymes in the liver. The amino group is removed, and the resulting molecule is a keto acid.

Role of the Liver: The liver is the primary organ responsible for deamination. It contains enzymes specifically designed to catalyze this reaction. The liver takes up excess amino acids from the blood and facilitates their deamination.

Fate of Ammonia: The deamination process produces ammonia (NH₃) as a byproduct. Ammonia is highly toxic to the body. The liver converts the toxic ammonia into urea through the Urea Cycle. Urea is then transported via the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is filtered out of the body in urine. This prevents a dangerous build-up of ammonia in the body.