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

/ lo̅o̅′sēn′ /

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

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

From Salon

Higher levels of PFOA, which predicted coronary microvascular disease, were associated with higher levels of amino acids isoleucine and leucine and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

From Science Daily

However, they did find that the variant causes a shift from the amino acid proline to leucine, which may interfere with the formation of a helix found in the normal version.

From Science Daily

Furthermore, the scientists showed that one amino acid -- leucine -- seems to have a disproportionate role in driving the pathological pathways linked to atherosclerosis, or stiff, hardened arteries.

From Science Daily

The researchers endowed Syn61Δ3 with modified tRNAs that misread two of the serine codons carried by invading viruses, inserting leucine instead of serine.

From Science Magazine