arginine

[ ahr-juh-neen, -nahyn, -nin ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. an essential amino acid, C 6 H 14 N 4 O 2 : the free amino acid increases insulin secretion and is converted to urea in the liver by arginase. : Arg; : R

arginine

/ ˈɑːdʒɪˌnaɪn /

noun

1. an essential amino acid of plant and animal proteins, necessary for nutrition and for the production of excretory urea

arginine

/ är′jə-nēn′ /

1. An amino acid that is essential for children but not for adults. Chemical formula: C 6 H 14 N 4 O 2 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of arginine¹

First recorded in 1885–90, arginine is from the German word Arginin, a name unexplained by its originators

Word History and Origins

Origin of arginine¹

C19: from German Arginin, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Nobel Laureate David Baltimore has expressed the view that CGG coding for arginine was so exceptional it would be suggestive of man-made origins, but this proves unconvincing.

From Time

There are actually six different codons for arginine, and the one found in a particular region of the SARS-CoV-2 genome called the furin cleavage site does occur less frequently in viruses than it does in the human genome.

From Nautilus

Rather, the pandemic virus uses that codon about 3 percent of the time that its genome calls for arginine—not common, but not impossibly scarce either—and, importantly, that other coronaviruses make use of it too, at similar or greater frequency.

From Nautilus

They are rich in glutamine, lysine, and arginine, though low in EAA methionine.

From Popular-Science

In vertebrates, the basis for the phosphoric acid is creatine, whereas invertebrates have arginine instead.

From Project Gutenberg