Ornithine
Ornithine
Ornithine (pronounced: or-ni-theen) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that plays a central role in the urea cycle, functioning along with Arginine and Citrulline to rid the body of ammonia, a byproduct of protein digestion.
Etymology
The term "Ornithine" is derived from the Greek word 'ornis', which means bird. It was named so because it was first isolated in 1905 from bird droppings.
Biochemical Role
Ornithine is a key compound in the Urea Cycle, which is the process by which mammals convert toxic ammonia to urea. Ornithine is converted into a different amino acid, Arginine, which is then converted into urea while producing Ornithine in a cyclical process.
Related Terms
- Arginine: An amino acid that is chemically similar to Ornithine and is involved in the same biochemical processes.
- Citrulline: Another amino acid that is part of the Urea Cycle.
- Urea Cycle: The biochemical process in which Ornithine is involved.
- Ammonia: A toxic byproduct of protein digestion that is converted into urea via the Urea Cycle.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ornithine
- Wikipedia's article - Ornithine
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