Aspartate is synthesized from and broken down to oxaloacetate, a TCA cycle intermediate, via a reversible transamination reaction with glutamate. This reaction is catalyzed by the aminotransferase AspC or TyrB. Aspartate is a component of proteins and is involved in many biosyntheses pathways like NAD biosynthesis and beta-alanine metabolism. Aspartate can also be synthesized from fumaric acid through an aspartate ammonia lyase. Aspartate also participates in the synthesis of L-asparagine through two different methods, either through aspartate ammonia ligase or asparagine synthetase B. Aspartate is also a precursor of fumaric acid. Again it has two possible ways of synthesizing it. First set of reactions follows an adenylo succinate synthetase that yields adenylsuccinic acid and then adenylosuccinate lyase in turns leads to fumaric acid. The second way is through argininosuccinate synthase that yields argininosuccinic acid and then argininosuccinate lyase in turns leads to fumaric acid.

Aspartate Metabolism References