Ornithine (Noun)
Meaning
An amino acid that does not occur in proteins but is important in the formation of urea.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Ornithine is an amino acid that does not occur in proteins but plays a crucial role in the urea cycle by being a key intermediate in the formation of urea.
- In the urea cycle, ornithine combines with carbamoyl phosphate to form citrulline, a step essential for nitrogen excretion in the form of urea.
- A deficiency in the enzyme ornithine transcarbamylase can disrupt the urea cycle and lead to a buildup of ammonia in the body.
- The synthesis of urea involves several enzymes, including those that facilitate the interconversion of ornithine and citrulline.
- The non-protein amino acid ornithine serves as a key molecule in the regulation of nitrogen metabolism and urea production in the liver.