leucine

American  

[loo-seen, -sin] / ˈlu sin, -sɪn /

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

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leucine British  

/ ˈluːsɪn, ˈluːsiːn /

noun

1. an essential amino acid found in many proteins

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leucine Scientific  

/ lo̅o̅′sēn′ /

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

2. See more at amino acid

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Etymology

Origin of leucine

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

Compare meaning

How does leucine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• isoleucine vs. leucine

Example Sentences

The team found that leucine prevents the breakdown of certain proteins located on the outer surface of mitochondria.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

Now, researchers at the University of Cologne have uncovered a new mechanism showing how the amino acid leucine can enhance mitochondrial performance.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

To better understand the broader impact of the discovery, the researchers studied the effects of leucine metabolism in the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

They found that problems with leucine breakdown could damage mitochondrial function and even cause fertility issues.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

Hydrolysis by acids indicates that it contains leucine and tyrosine, two amino-acids which are constituents of proteins, along with other bodies of unknown composition.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred