Glucose-alanine cycle

Alanine, on the one hand, participates in the transfer of ammonia through the blood, and on the other hand, through pyruvate, serves as an important source of carbon for the process of gluconeogenesis.

See Glucose Breakdown and Synthesis for more detailed information.

The glucose-alanine cycle is an interorgan metabolic pathway occurring between muscle cells and the liver.


 * After pyruvate is formed in muscle cells, it undergoes transamination to form alanine.
 * It is released into the blood, which transports it to the liver, where it is converted back into pyruvate by transamination, which can be involved in the process of gluconeogenesis.
 * The resulting glucose enters the muscles through the blood and the whole cycle is closed.

The transferred amino group (ammonia) goes to the urea cycle.