Chapter 16.8, Problem DQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The nucleophilic addition reaction occuring steps in the given transamination reaction has to be determined.

Concept introduction:

Amino acids are the molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic group, and a side-chain that is specific to each amino acid. They are the basic structural building units of protein and other biomolecules.

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are the key elements in amino acid.

General structure of an amino acid can be drawn as follows,

The transfer of an amino group from an amino acid to a ketoacid with the formation of a new amino acid and a new keto acid is known as transamination reaction.

This reaction is catalysed by a group of enzymes called transaminases or aminotransferases. PLP- Pyridoxalphosphate acts as co-factor in this reaction.

Nucleophile: It is negatively charged species which seeks for positive charge and hence donate pair of electrons to positively charged species (electrophiles) which results in the formation of chemical bond.

Nucleophilic addition reaction is an addition reaction where in a chemical compound a $\pi$ bond is removed by the creation of two new covalent bonds by the addition of a nucleophile. Generally, addition reactions are limited to chemical compounds that have multiple – bonded atoms.

In a nucleophilic addition reaction the first step is the bond formation between a nucleophile and electrophile.