Deamination – Breakdown of Protein (Nursing)

00:00 So how does the liver break down protein? I promise this is really important because when you understand this, you're gonna become the kind of nurse that I'd want taking care of my family member in the hospital So let's look at it, we know that ammonia is a waste product of protein metabolism.

00:19 Okay, how many times do you think I'm gonna say that? a lot, because I want to make sure that you hear that repetition so that concept is rock solid in your brains when you're taking care of patients, but let's look at how the the liver does it.

00:34 Now it's a pretty formal process, it's called deamination.

00:38 That's how the liver, that's the name of the process that the liver uses to break down protein.

00:44 So let's help you remember that big fancy word, you'll see on our screen, you just saw "DE" going pink, right? That means removal.

00:54 Next you see of an amino group.

00:56 So see that, we're gonna kind of slice that amino group.

01:00 So when we talk about protein metabolism that's "breaking apart".

01:05 When we talk about deamination, that's the name of the process of metabolizing protein or breaking it apart.

01:12 Specifically, removing an amino group right? So you move an amino group from an amino acid or another compound.

01:20 Now let me help you feel real sharp, think back to junior high.

01:24 What are amino acids? Right! amino acids are the building blocks of protein, cool alright, so we all know that.

01:34 So when you see us talk about removing an amino group from an amino acid or another compound, we're talking about the building blocks of protein.

01:42 That make sense because we're talking about protein metabolism.

01:46 Now why does it matter that my liver can break apart this protein? because I need that for energy, I also need it to help make carbohydrates or fats.

01:56 So it's a super important function of one of many that the liver can do but breaking down protein is what helps keep my body processing.

02:06 Remember protein is part of what help keep fluid in the right spot, it gives me energy, we have fats, we have carbohydrates so this is not a small thing.

02:16 I need a strong healthy functioning liver in order for my body to have the energy it needs and to make carbohydrates and fats.