1. Alanine Transaminase

2. Alanine Transaminase
Alanine transaminase or ALT is a transaminase enzyme (EC ).
It is also called serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
ALT is found in serum and in various body tissues, but is most commonly associated with the liver.

3. Transamination
It is the reaction between an amino acid and an alpha-keto acid. The amino group is transferred from the former to the latter; this results in the amino acid being converted to the corresponding α-keto acid, while the reactant α-keto acid is converted to the corresponding amino acid.
Transamination in biochemistry is accomplished by enzymes called transaminases or aminotransferases.
This process is an important step in the synthesis of some non-essential amino acids (amino acids that are not supplied from the diet).

5. Function

6. Clinical significance
It is commonly measured clinically as a part of a diagnostic liver function test, to determine liver health.
Diagnostically, it is almost always measured in units/liter (U/L).
Normal level in serum:
ALT < 45 units/ml

7. Viral or autoimmune hepatitis. Cirrhosis.
Elevated levels:
Viral or autoimmune hepatitis.
Cirrhosis.
Lack of blood flow to the liver (liver ischemia).
Death of liver tissue (liver necrosis).
Liver tumor.
Use of drugs that are poisonous to the liver.
Biliary duct problems. For this reason, ALT is commonly used as a way of screening for liver problems.
When elevated ALT levels are found in the blood, the possible underlying causes can be further narrowed down by measuring other enzymes.
For example, elevated ALT levels due to liver-cell damage can be distinguished from biliary duct problems by measuring alkaline phosphatase.

8. ALT Activity Assay Principle
The Alanine Transaminase (ALT) spectrophotometric assay uses enzymatic reaction:
GPT
L-Alanine + α-ketoglutaric acid L-Glutamic acid + Pyruvic
LDH
Pyruvic acid + NADH + H L-Lactic acid + NAD+
The absorbance is measured at 505 nm, is proportional to the level of ALT enzyme in the sample.

9. Why Get Tested?
To screen for liver damage and/or to help diagnose liver disease.
Sample Required?
Serum.
When is it ordered?
To evaluate a person who has symptoms of a liver disorder:
Weakness, fatigue, Loss of appetite
Nausea, vomiting
Abdominal swelling and/or pain
Jaundice
Dark urine, light colored stool
Itching (pruritus)

10. What does the test result mean?
Very high levels of ALT (more than 10 times the highest normal level) are usually due to acute hepatitis, often due to a virus infection.
In acute hepatitis, ALT levels usually stay high for about 1–2 months but can take as long as 3–6 months to return to normal.
ALT levels are usually not as high in chronic hepatitis, often less than 4 times the highest normal level.

11. Other causes of moderate increases in ALT include obstruction of bile ducts, cirrhosis and with tumors in the liver.
In most types of liver diseases, the ALT level is higher than AST.
There are a few exceptions. The AST/ALT ratio is usually increased in alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and with muscle injury.

12. Aspartate Transaminase
Aspartate transaminase (AST) also called serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (EC ) is similar to alanine transaminase (ALT) in that it is another enzyme associated with liver parenchymal cells.

13. Function

14. Aspartate Transaminase Isozymes
Two isoenzymes are present in humans.
GOT1, the cytosolic isoenzyme derives mainly from red blood cells and heart.
GOT2, the mitochondrial isoenzyme is predominantly present in liver.
Normal Level:
AST <40 units/ml

15. Clinical significance
It is raised in acute liver damage. It is also present in red blood cells and cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle and may be elevated due to damage to those sources as well.
AST was defined as a biochemical marker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in However the use of AST for such a diagnosis is now redundant and has been superseded by the cardiac troponins.
AST (SGOT) is commonly measured clinically as a part of diagnostic liver function tests, to determine liver health.

16. Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase (GPT) is found in significant quantities in liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle, in decreasing order. When liver cells are damaged, GOT and GPT levels rise especially early in the disease.
In hepatitis, transaminase levels rise several days before jaundice begins. The enzyme levels are especially useful in assessing subtle and early changes in biliary obstruction and active cirrhosis.

17. AST Activity Assay Principle: GOT
L-Aspartate + α-ketoglutarate L-Glutamate + Oxaloacetate
The oxaloacetate obtained is measured in its derative from 2,4 dinitropheny hydrazone.
The absorbance is measured at 505 nm, is proportional to the level of ALT enzyme in the sample.
Sample:
Serum.

18. Transaminases (GOT and GPT)
Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT) occurs in large concentrations in the heart and liver with moderate amounts in skeletal muscle, kidneys, and pancreas.
GOT levels can be used to diagnose myocardial infarction within hours. Other conditions with elevated GOT include arrhythmias and severe angina of the heart, and liver damage.