Editing Alanine (section)

===Biosynthesis===
Alanine can be synthesized from [[pyruvate]] and [[Branched-chain amino acids|branched chain amino acids]] such as [[valine]], [[leucine]], and [[isoleucine]].

Alanine is produced by [[reductive amination]] of [[pyruvate]], a two-step process. In the first step, [[Alpha-Ketoglutaric acid|α-ketoglutarate]], [[ammonia]] and [[NADH]] are converted by [[glutamate dehydrogenase]] to [[glutamate]], NAD<sup>+</sup> and water. In the second step, the amino group of the newly formed glutamate is transferred to pyruvate by an [[aminotransferase]] enzyme, regenerating the α-ketoglutarate, and converting the pyruvate to alanine. The net result is that pyruvate and ammonia are converted to alanine, consuming one [[reducing equivalent]].<ref name=":0" />{{rp|721}} Because [[transamination]] reactions are readily reversible and pyruvate is present in all cells, alanine can be easily formed and thus has close links to metabolic pathways such as [[glycolysis]], [[gluconeogenesis]], and the [[citric acid cycle]].<ref>{{Citation |last1=Melkonian |first1=Erica A. |title=Physiology, Gluconeogenesis |date=2023 |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541119/ |work=StatPearls |access-date=2023-07-09 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=31082163 |last2=Asuka |first2=Edinen |last3=Schury |first3=Mark P.}}</ref>