FURTHER FATE OF AMINO ACIDS 107 



CH a .CH 3 .CH 3 .CH.COOH 

 NH 3 



C = O + NH 3 NH a 



I 

 NH, 



Ornithine 



SYNTHESIS OF AMINO ACIDS 



It has been demonstrated that alanine, phenylalanine 

 and tyrosine may be synthesized in the liver by per- 

 fusion of ammonium salts of ketone acids. 



R.CH 3 .CO.COONH 4 



Ammonium salt of ketonic acid 



,OH 



R.CH 3 .C<; COOH R.CH 2 .CH.NH a .COOH 

 "NH 



Imino acid hydrate Amino acid 



The possibility of synthesis of ammo acids in this 

 manner renders the interpretation of metabolic changes 

 in the tissues more complex than ever and confers upon 

 the organism a range of synthetic powers practically 

 unlimited. , 



Under ordinary circumstances, however, it is un- 

 likely that amino acids are synthesized to a great extent 



