Question

A member of this class of enzymes is present in elevated levels in many diseases that cause liver damage, and was previously used as a way to screen for Hepatitis C in blood donors. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this class of enzymes whose most well-studied example catalyzes a reaction between alanine and alpha-keto·glutarate to produce pyruvate and glutamate.
ANSWER: transaminases [or aminotransferases; accept alanine transaminase or alanine aminotransferase or ALT or ALAT; accept serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase or GPT or serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase or SGPT]
[10m] The active form of this vitamin acts as an electrophile to stabilize the carbanionic intermediates in transaminase reactions. PLP is the active form of this vitamin.
ANSWER: vitamin B6 [accept pyridoxine or pyridoxal or pyridoxamine; accept pyridoxal phosphate]
[10e] PLP is often used as a cofactor in reactions that result in the release of this molecule, such as the conversion of glutamic acid to GABA, or of L-DOPA to dopamine. This molecule acts as a leaving group in decarboxylations.
ANSWER: carbon dioxide [or CO2]
<Chemistry>

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Summary

2025 ACF Nationals04/19/2025Y2213.1864%41%27%

Data

UC Berkeley AArizona State0101020
RutgersChicago B10101030
Cornell AHarvard0101020
FloridaCornell B001010
Illinois BIndiana001010
MITYale1001020
MarylandOttawa0000
Columbia AMichigan10101030
MinnesotaChicago A0000
NYUVirginia010010
StanfordOhio State10101030
Penn StateRIT0000
TexasColumbia B0000
Toronto ANorth Carolina B0101020
Toronto BWUSTL B1001020
Toronto CIllinois A001010
UC Berkeley BGeorgia State0000
Virginia TechUCF0000
North Carolina AVanderbilt001010
WUSTL AIowa State0101020
LSEWaterloo A0000
British ColumbiaWinona State10101030