Nitrogen, one-carbon & thiols
Nitrogen disposal, one-carbon transfer, sulfur chemistry and redox-buffer synthesis at the amino-acid–nucleotide interface.
Carbon and nitrogen move together through amino-acid reactions but are disposed of through different networks. Transamination can redistribute amino groups without itself removing nitrogen from the body; the urea cycle supplies the dedicated disposal route.
Tetrahydrofolate derivatives carry one-carbon units at several oxidation states. Their reactions connect serine and glycine chemistry to nucleotide construction and methyl-group metabolism.
Ideas to carry into the map
- Transamination redistributes nitrogen; it does not dispose of it.
- THF carries one-carbon units at several oxidation states.
- Glutathione couples redox buffering to conjugation chemistry.
Pathways in this field note
Serine synthesis and transformation, including transfer of one-carbon units to tetrahydrofolate.
Methionine, cysteine, transsulfuration and related sulfur-transfer chemistry.
Glycine cleavage, synthesis and glyoxylate detoxification across cytosolic, mitochondrial and peroxisomal contexts.
Compartment-spanning conversion of nitrogen into urea through ornithine, citrulline and arginine intermediates.
Synthesis, oxidation, reduction and conjugation of the glutathione redox buffer.