Leucine is used as a source for the synthesis of blood sugar in the liver during starvation, stress, and infection to aid in healing. Leucine also significantly influences muscle-protein metabolism and
therefore is very important to body builders. Foods containing high levels of leucine include: cottage cheese, seafood, meat, poultry, and sesame seeds.
In rare cases babies are born with an inability to metabolize leucine, which causes 'maple syrup urine
disease': which is a disease that results in severe mental
retardation. Insulin deficiency is known to result in poor
utilization of leucine.
IUPAC name:
2-Amino-4-methyl-pentanoic acid
Citation of a publication:
M. Coll, X. Solans, M. Font-
Altaba, J.A. Subirana; Acta Crystallogr., Sect.C.
(Ctr.Str.Comm.), 42, (1986), 599
Lab name:
Common molecules
Sample provider:
Obtained courtesy of the Cambridge Structural Database
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