Leucine
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| Leucine |
<td style="background-color: #FFFFFF;">131.18 g mol−1</td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #FFFFFF; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap; width: 30%;">Systematic name</td> <td style="background-color: #FFFFFF;">(S)-2-amino-4-methyl-pentanoic acid</td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="background-color: #F8EABA;" colspan="2">Complete data</td></tr></table></div>
Leucine is one of the 20 common amino acids and 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 in infancy and childhood and for nitrogen equilibrium in adults. It is suspected that Leucine plays a part in maintaining muscles by equalizing synthesis and breakdown of proteins.
The major food sources of leucine are whole grains and milk products. Eggs, pork, beef, chicken, pulses, soy beans, and leafy vegetables are good sources of leucine.
![Leucine Formula (Older Version [Note the differences in the order of the elements in a molecule])](/index.php/Image:Leu-stick.png)
[edit] External links
- Leucine biosynthesis
- Computational Chemistry Wiki
- Leucine prevents muscle loss in rats
- Leucine helps regulate appetite in rats
| The 20 Common Amino Acids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alanine (dp) | Arginine (dp) | Asparagine (dp) | Aspartic acid (dp) | Cysteine (dp) | Glutamic acid (dp) | Glutamine (dp) | Glycine (dp) | Histidine (dp) | Isoleucine (dp) | Leucine (dp) | Lysine (dp) | Methionine (dp) | Phenylalanine (dp) | Proline (dp) | Serine (dp) | Threonine (dp) | Tryptophan (dp) | Tyrosine (dp) | Valine (dp) | ||
| ←Peptides | Major families of biochemicals | Nucleic acids→ |
de:Leucin es:Leucina eo:Leŭcino fr:Leucine id:Leusin it:Leucina he:לאוצין lv:Leicīns lb:Leucin lt:Leucinas nl:Leucine ja:ロイシン pl:Leucyna pt:Leucina ru:Лейцин fi:Leusiini sv:Leucin uk:Лейцин zh:亮氨酸
