Asparagine is one of the twenty amino acids that combine to construct proteins according to the genetic code. In both eukaryotes and prokaryotes, L-asparagine is biosynthesized from L-aspartate via amidation using L-glutamine as an amino group donor. The first of the two reactions involved is catalyzed by asparagine synthetase [glutamine-hydrolyzing] 1. However, the second reaction is catalyzed by both asparagine synthetase [glutamine-hydrolyzing] 1 and 2. Asparagine synthetase 1 is negatively controlled by light and sucrose whereas asparagine synthetase 2 is positively controlled by light and sucrose. Asparagine gets metabolized back into L-aspartic acid by reacting with water through an L-asparaginase, resulting in the release of ammonium and L-aspartic acid.

Asparagine Metabolism References