leucine

[loo-seen, -sin]

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble amino acid, C 6 H 13 NO 2 , obtained by the decomposition of proteins and made synthetically: essential in the nutrition of humans and animals. Leu; L

leucine

/ ˈluːsɪn, ˈluːsiːn /

noun

1. an essential amino acid found in many proteins

leucine

1. An essential amino acid. Chemical formula: C ₆ H ₁₃ NO ₂ .

2. See more at amino acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of leucine¹

First recorded in 1820–30; leuc- + -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Their work reveals that leucine stabilizes important mitochondrial proteins, enhancing the organelle's ability to produce energy.

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He says that some US consumers are now seeking out beta-lactoglobulin, which is high in the amino acid leucine, rather than non-specific whey protein.

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This was not the feared 226L mutation: The amino acid had changed to a histidine instead of leucine.

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Lo and behold, when they switched a glutamine to a leucine at position 226, it no longer bound to the bird receptors, but instead exclusively to those of humans.

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So, proteins with a greater leucine content are generally considered better for muscle growth.

Read more on Salon