Leucine

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Image:L-leucine-3D-sticks.png
Leucine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(S)-2-amino-4-methyl-pentanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	61-90-5
PubChem	6106
Chemical data
Formula	C6H13NO2
Molar mass	131.18 g/mol
SMILES	CC(C)C[C@H](N)C(O)=O
Complete data

Leucine (abbreviated as Leu or L)^[1] is an α-amino acid with the chemical formula HO₂CCH(NH₂)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂. It is an essential amino acid, which means that humans cannot synthesise it. Its codons are UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, and CUG. With a hydrocarbon side chain, leucine is classified as a hydrophobic amino acid.

Contents 1 Biosynthesis 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

Biosynthesis

As an essential amino acid, leucine is not synthesized in animals, hence it must be ingested, usually as a component of proteins. It is synthesized in plants and microorganisms via several steps starting from pyruvic acid. The initial part of the pathway also leads to valine. The intermediate α-ketovalerate is converted to α-isopropylmalate and then β-isopropylmalate, which is dehydrogenated to α-ketoisocaproate, which in the final step undergoes reductive amination. Enzymes involved in a typical leucine biosynthesis include^[1]

• Acetolactate synthase,
• Acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase,
• Dihydroxyacid dehydratase,
• α-Isopropylmalate synthase,
• α-Isopropylmalate isomerase,
• Leucine aminotransferase.

See also

• Photo-reactive leucine

References

External links

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

v • d • e Major families of biochemicals
Peptides | Amino acids | Nucleic acids | Carbohydrates | Nucleotide sugars | Lipids | Terpenes | Carotenoids | Tetrapyrroles | Enzyme cofactors | Steroids | Flavonoids | Alkaloids | Polyketides | Glycosides
Analogues of nucleic acids:	The 20 Common Amino Acids ("dp" = data page)	Analogues of nucleic 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)

Template:Molecular-cell-biology-stub

ca:Leucina da:Leucin de:Leucineo:Leŭcino fr:Leucine ko:류신 hr:Leucin id:Leusin it:Leucina he:לאוצין lv:Leicīns lb:Leucin lt:Leucinas nl:Leucine ja:ロイシン no:Leucinfi:Leusiini sv:Leucinuk:Лейцин