Citrulline (Noun)
Meaning
An amino acid that does not occur in proteins but is an intermediate in the conversion of ornithine to arginine.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that plays a crucial role in the urea cycle, serving as an intermediate in the conversion of ornithine to arginine.
- The enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase catalyzes the conversion of citrulline and aspartate to argininosuccinate, a key step in the urea cycle.
- Citrulline is not incorporated into proteins, but rather serves as a critical intermediate in the biosynthesis of arginine.
- In the liver, citrulline is converted to argininosuccinate by the enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase, which is then cleaved to form arginine.
- Elevated levels of citrulline in the blood can be an indicator of intestinal dysfunction or small bowel injury, as citrulline is primarily produced in the enterocytes of the small intestine.