The role of the urea cycle is the preparation of urea for the excretion of the excess nitrogen of the body. The steps of the cycle are localized in the mitochondria and cytosol (Figure 1).
Urea cycle
- The first step of the cycle is mitochondrial and is catalyzed by ornithine transcarbamoylase (OTC).
- Ornithine transported the mitochondria and merged together with CP, generating citrulline.
- Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) condenses citrulline with the amino group of Asp.
- Argininosuccinate is