Question

Glutamate, a 5-carbon amino acid, is the precursor of three otheramino acids that contain a 5-carbon chain. Identify these amino acids.

Short answer

Given below are the three amino acids which are derived from glutamate:

1. Proline
2. Arginine
3. Glutamine

Step-by-step solution

Glutamate-amino acid

Glutamic acid is one of the important amino acids useful in protein structure, and metabolic activities. They have two acidic carboxyl groups at both ends.

Amino acids derived from glutamate

The three amino acids are:

1. Proline

Proline amino acid belongs to aliphatic amino acid and is derived from the non-essential amino acid, glutamate. Even though the amino acid lacks an amino group, a secondary amine is present. The structure consists of a five- membered ring attached to the carboxylic acid.

2. Arginine

It is derived from the glutamate amino acid. The guanidine group, the main feature of arginine, is responsible for the nitric oxide synthesis.

3. Glutamine

Structurally glutamine is different from glutamic acid, with the amino group on one the side. It is considered a precursor for the formation of nucleotides.