How is arginine traditionally obtained?
Arginine is traditionally obtained by hydrolysis of various cheap sources of protein, such as gelatin.
How is arginine commercially produced?
Arginine can be commercially produced by fermentation, using glucose as a carbon source.
How is arginine synthesized in the body?
Arginine is synthesized from citrulline in the urea cycle by the action of argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase enzymes.
Why is arginine synthesis considered an energetically costly process?
Arginine synthesis is considered energetically costly because for each molecule of argininosuccinate synthesized, one molecule of ATP is hydrolyzed, consuming two ATP equivalents.
How is arginine recycled in the body?
Citrulline, a byproduct of nitric oxide production, can be recycled to arginine in a pathway known as the citrulline to nitric oxide (citrulline-NO) or arginine-citrulline pathway.
What functions does arginine play in the body?
Arginine plays a role in cell division, wound healing, removing ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of hormones. It is also a precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide, which regulates blood pressure.
Where is arginine typically found in proteins?
Arginine is typically found on the outside of proteins, where the hydrophilic head group can interact with the polar environment.
How is arginine modified in proteins?
Arginine residues in proteins can be deiminated to form citrulline, and can also be methylated by protein methyltransferases.
What are the precursors and products of arginine?
Arginine is a precursor for nitric oxide, urea, ornithine, agmatine, creatine, and polyamines. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a close relative of arginine, inhibits the nitric oxide reaction and is considered a marker for vascular disease.