Page "Amino acid" Paragraph 26

When taken up into the human body from the diet, the 22 standard amino acids either are used to synthesize proteins and other biomolecules or are oxidized to urea and carbon dioxide as a source of energy.

The oxidation pathway starts with the removal of the amino group by a transaminase, the amino group is then fed into the urea cycle.

The other product of transamidation is a keto acid that enters the citric acid cycle.

Glucogenic amino acids can also be converted into glucose, through gluconeogenesis.