Urea Cycle

Definition

The urea cycle is a biological process in the liver where the body converts ammonia into urea, which can then be safely excreted through urine.

Scientific / Technical Definition

The urea cycle, also known as the ornithine cycle, is a series of biochemical reactions that occur in the liver. This process is crucial for detoxifying ammonia, which is a toxic byproduct of protein metabolism. Through a series of steps involving enzymes and intermediates like ornithine, citrulline, argininosuccinate, and arginine, ammonia is converted to urea and water.

Benefits

• Helps prevent the accumulation of ammonia in the body, which can be toxic.
• Essential for the safe disposal of nitrogen from the body.

Examples

• Liver function
• Protein metabolism regulation

Additional Information

• importance: The urea cycle is important for detoxifying ammonia and maintaining nitrogen balance in the body, which is vital for overall metabolic health.

Related Terms

• Protein Metabolism
• Ammonia
• Arginine
• Citrulline

References

• Urea cycle and its disorders: What's new?
• The urea cycle: link to nitrogen balance and amino acid metabolism.