Alpha-ketoglutarate, a key molecule involved in nitrogen circulation in both animals and plants, in the context of human gut microbiota and protein metabolism
Purpose: Nitrogen (N2) is an indispensable metabolite required for the synthesis of protein. In animals, gut bacteria and, to a certain extent, even hepatocytes, are able to assimilate nitrogen from ammonium (NH4+), which is essentially derived from the amine group (-NH2) and which is at the same time a very toxic metabolite. Initially, NH4+ is coupled to alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), a reaction whic
