Type: Essential Amino Acid
Name: Leucine (L, Leu), Chemical formula C6H13NO2
Importance- to Body:
Promotes a healthy liver, aids in management of cholesterol, stimulates insulin and regulates blood sugar (to lower risk of diabetes) and lowers the risk of obesity. Leu is a muscle a helpful muscle stimulant, so it is recommended body builders or people building muscle mass should take a supplement before and after their workout routine.
Distribution- in Body:
Metabolism of Leucine occurs in the tissues of the body, but mainly in the liver and muscle tissues.
Excess Effects:
Poor Memory, Failure of the Liver, Rashes, Failure of the Kidneys, Hypoglycemia, Pellagra.
Deficiency Effects:
Poor Balance and Coordination, Fatigue, Sluggishness, Headaches, Irritability/Anxiety.
Food Sources: Lentils, Seaweed, Soybeans, Meats, Beans, Dairy Products.
Environmental/Geographic Sources:
Supplemental information:
One of the three branched chained amino acids (BCAAs – valine and isoleucine are the two others). Vital for growing muscle mass because Leucine stimulates protein synthesis in order to build muscle.
 L-Leucine
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| IUPAC name
Leucine
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| Other names
2-Amino-4-methylpentanoic acid
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3D model (JSmol)
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.475 |
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| Properties | |
| C6H13NO2 | |
| Molar mass | 131.18 g·mol−1 |
| Acidity (pKa) | 2.36 (carboxyl), 9.60 (amino) |
| -84.9·10−6 cm3/mol | |
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Thermodynamic
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Phase behaviour solid–liquid–gas |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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| Infobox references | |
Leucine (symbol Leu or L) is an essential amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Leucine is an α-amino acid, meaning it contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated −NH3+ form under biological conditions), an α-carboxylic acid group (which is in the deprotonated −COO− form under biological conditions), and a side chain isobutyl group, making it a non-polar aliphatic amino acid. It is essential in humans, meaning the body cannot synthesize it: it must be obtained from the diet. Human dietary sources are foods that contain protein, such as meats, dairy products, soy products, and beans and other legumes. It is encoded by the codons UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, and CUG.
Like valine and isoleucine, leucine is a branched-chain amino acid. The primary metabolic end products of leucine metabolism are acetyl-CoA and acetoacetate; consequently, it is one of the two exclusively ketogenic amino acids, with lysine being the other. It is the most important ketogenic amino acid in humans.p. 101
Leucine and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid, a minor leucine metabolite, exhibit pharmacological activity in humans and have been demonstrated to promote protein biosynthesis via the phosphorylation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR).