Chapter 5, Problem 3TMW

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The reason for production of ammonia and other nitrogenous wastes by the catabolism of amino acids for energy.

Concept introduction:

Catabolism of proteins is done by various microbes to acquire energy for metabolic activities, mostly in the absence of carbon sources like fat and glucose. Proteins are too big in size to pass through the cytoplasmic membrane; therefore, these microbes secrete the enzyme protease that breaks down protein into the amino acids that it is made up of.