Question

What α-keto acid is formed on transamination of leucine?

Short answer

${\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\right)}_2{\mathrm{CHCH}}_2{\mathrm{COCO}}_2$

Step-by-step solution

Draw the structure of leucine

The amino acid leucine has the following structure:

Apply the general scheme of transamination is degradation

Transamination is defined as the degradation of anα-AA by another α-AA.

1. Deamination is used to remove the amino group as NH₃.
2. NH₃ to urea conversion.
3. The carbon skeleton of the remaining amino acid is transformed to anα-keto acid.

Applying this scheme to leucine

When this technique is used to leucine, it results in fragments such as

As a result, the α-keto acid produced is