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	C₆H₁₃N O₂
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.

Leucine Formula (Older Version [Note the differences in the order of the elements in a molecule])

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Links to external chemical sources

v • d • e Major Families of Biochemicals
Peptides \| Amino acids \| Nucleic acids \| Carbohydrates \| Lipids \| Terpenes \| Carotenoids \| Tetrapyrroles \| Enzyme cofactors \| Steroids \| Flavonoids \| Alkaloids \| Polyketides \| Glycosides
Analogues of nucleic acids:	The 20 Common Amino Acids	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)