NAME:
Leucine
L-2-amino-4-methylvaleric acid
SYMBOLS: Leu; L
CAS REGISTRY NUMBER: 61-90-5
FAMILY: Amino acids with nonpolar (hydrophobic) radicals
MOLECULAR FORMULA: C6H13O2N
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 131
ISOELECTRIC POINT: 5.98 |
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COMMENTS:
• neutral,
genetically coded amino acid
•
essential in
human nutrition, i.e. it must be obtained through the
diet in adequate quantities to meet the body's needs
•
with valine and isoleucine belongs to the set of branched-chain
amino acids
•
average frequency of occurrence in proteins: 9%
•
helps with the regulation of blood-sugar levels, the
growth and repair of muscle tissue, the growth hormone
production as well as wound healing
• can assist to
prevent the breakdown of muscle proteins that sometimes
occur after trauma or severe stress
•
may be beneficial for individuals with
phenylketonuria—a condition in which the body cannot
metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine
•
deficiency of this nutrient is rare
(vegans and vegetarians), since all protein foods
contains this amino acid
•
inherited deficiencies of enzymes
involved in its metabolism result in a group of
disorders referred to as leucine metabolism disorders.
In these cases, the body is not able to break down
one of several metabolites of the essential amino acid
leucine, resulting in toxic levels of that metabolite in
the body. Approximately 60 cases of leucine metabolism
disorders have been reported. This disease generally result in metabolic acidosis,
which can lead to neurological damage, coma, and death
if not corrected |
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