In addition to equilibrating amino groups among available a-keto acids, transaminases funnel amino groups from excess dietary amino acids to those amino acids (e.g., glutamate) that can be deaminated. Carbon skeletons of deaminated amino acids can be catabolized for energy or used to synthesize glucose or fatty acids for energy storage.
Only a few amino acids can be deaminated directly. Glutamate Dehydrogenase catalyzes a major reaction that effects net removal of N from the amino acid pool .
Glutamate Dehydrogenase is one of the few enzymes that can utilize either NAD+ or NADP+ as electron acceptor.
Oxidation at the a-carbon is followed by hydrolysis, releasing NH4+.