Leucine

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Leucine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(S)-2-amino-4-methyl-pentanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	61-90-5
PubChem	6106
Chemical data
Formula	C6H13NO2
Mol. weight	131.18
Complete data

Leucine is one of the 20 common amino acids coded for by DNA. It is isomeric with isoleucine. Nutritionally, in humans, leucine is an essential amino acid.

Leucine is the most common amino acid found in proteins, and is essential for optimal growth during infancy and childhood. In adults it is essential for maintaining nitrogen equilibrium. It is suspected that Leucine plays a part in maintaining muscles by equalizing the synthesis and breakdown of proteins.

The major food sources of leucine are whole grains and milk products. Eggs, pork, beef, chicken, pulses, soybeans, and leaf vegetables are good sources of leucine.

[edit] External links

• Leucine biosynthesis
• Computational Chemistry Wiki
• Leucine prevents muscle loss in rats
• Leucine helps regulate appetite in rats

• Link page to external chemical sources.

This page uses content from the English-language version of Wikipedia. The original article was at Leucine. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Psychology Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.