During the metabolism of amino acids,amino groups are often switched from one organic compound toanother through a process called transamination. The following aretwo examples of transamination reactions with their correspondingfree energy changes:
glutamate + pyruvate --->α-ketoglutarate +alanine             ∆Go' = - 1.00 kJ/mol
glutamate + oxaloacetate --->α-ketoglutarate + aspartate     ∆Go' = - 4.81 kJ/mol
Answer the following questionsabout transamination.
a. Using the two equations givenabove, write an equation for the net formation of alanine andoxaloacetate from aspartate and pyruvate.
b. Calculate the standard free energychange for this overall reaction and indicate whether it will gospontaneously in the direction indicated.
c. Suppose that under steady stateconditions in a cell at 37 oC, the actual concentrationsof pyruvate and aspartate are 1.2 x 10-2 M, theconcentration of alanine is 1.5 x 10-4 M, and theconcentration of oxaloacetate is 1.9 x 10-5 M. Using theequation that ∆G = ∆Go' + RT ln [products]/[reactants]and the gas constant of R = 8.315 J/mol K, calculate the actualfree energy change and determine if the reaction is spontaneous
