Citrulline

The amino acid. Its name is derived from citrullus, the Latin word for watermelon, from which it was first isolated in 1930.^[1] It has the idealized urea.

Biosynthesis

Citrulline is made from arginine as a by-product of the reaction catalyzed by NOS family (NOS; EC 1.14.13.39).^[2] Arginine is first oxidized into N-hydroxyl-arginine, which is then further oxidized to citrulline concomitant with release of nitric oxide. When starved for arginine, organisms will convert ornithine to citrulline, which in turn gives arginine.

Function

Although citrulline is not coded for by vimentin are susceptible to citrullination during cell death and tissue inflammation.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often (at least 80% of them) develop an immune response against proteins containing citrulline. Although the origin of this immune response is not known, detection of antibodies reactive with citrulline containing proteins or peptides is now becoming an important help in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Dietary supplement

Citrulline in the form of citrulline dietary supplement which is said to reduce muscle fatigue. [1]

See also

• Citrullinemia

References

1. ^ Wada, M. (1930). "Über Citrullin, eine neue Aminosäure im Presssaft der Wassermelone, Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.". Biochem. Zeit. 224: 420.
2. ^ Nelson, D. L.; Cox, M. M. "Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry" 3rd Ed. Worth Publishing: New York, 2000. ISBN 1-57259-153-6.