Protein breakdown occurs in our muscles and peripheral tissues
Nitrogen waste must be taken to the liver for it to be transferred to the urea cycle
Nitrogen can't be released straight into our blood because it's TOXIC (3 Ammonium ions are highly toxic to the body!)
2 steps before the Urea Cycle begins
1. The amino group within an amino acid that contains Nitrogen is taken from the amino acid & transferred to another molecule (Alphaketoglutarate) Glutamate
2. Glutamate can freely circulate in the blood to carry excess nitrogen waste with it into the liver
OXIDATIVE DEAMINATION (Removal of the amine group)
1. Glutamate is the ONLY Amino Acid to undergo oxidative deamination
2. Liberates the ammonia for urea synthesis to be transformed to the urea cycle
