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

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Compare meaning

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

• isoleucine vs. leucine

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

leucine

BCAAs are popular because it’s believed the leucine they contain switches on protein synthesis.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

That observation could be important for future cancer research because treatments that alter leucine related pathways may affect both healthy cells and tumor cells in different ways.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 3, 2026

According to the study, leucine appears to suppress SEL1L activity.

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

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 Roscoe Wilfred Thatcher

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