Chemistry:Ornithine

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l-Ornithine
L-Ornithin2.svg
Ornithine ball-and-stick.png
Names
IUPAC name
L-Ornithine
Other names
(+)-(S)-2,5-Diaminovaleric acid
(+)-(S)-2,5-Diaminopentanoic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
EC Number
  • 200-731-7
KEGG
MeSH Ornithine
UNII
Properties[1]
C5H12N2O2
Molar mass 132.16 g/mol
Melting point 140 °C (284 °F; 413 K)
soluble
Solubility soluble in ethanol
Acidity (pKa) 1.94
+11.5 (H2O, c = 6.5)
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

Ornithine is a non-proteinogenic α-amino acid that plays a role in the urea cycle. Ornithine is abnormally accumulated in the body in ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. The radical is ornithyl.[2]

Role in urea cycle

L-Ornithine is one of the products of the action of the enzyme arginase on L-arginine, creating urea. Therefore, ornithine is a central part of the urea cycle, which allows for the disposal of excess nitrogen. Ornithine is recycled and, in a manner, is a catalyst. First, ammonia is converted into carbamoyl phosphate (H2NC(O)OPO2−3) by carbamoyl phosphate synthetase. Ornithine transcarbamylase catalyzes the reaction between carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine to form citrulline and phosphate (Pi). Another amino group is added from aspartate, producing arginine and denitrogenated fumarate. The resulting arginine (a guanidinium compound) is hydrolysed back to ornithine, producing urea. The amino groups of urea come from the ammonia and aspartate, and the nitrogen in ornithine remains intact.

Reaction mechanism:. The side-chain amino group of ornithine (Orn) attacks the carbonyl carbon of carbamoyl phosphate (CP) nucleophilically, left, to form a tetrahedral transition state, middle. Charge rearrangement releases citrulline (Cit) and phosphate (Pi), right.[3]

Ornithine is not an amino acid coded for by DNA, that is, not proteinogenic. However, in mammalian non-hepatic tissues, the main use of the urea cycle is in arginine biosynthesis, so, as an intermediate in metabolic processes, ornithine is quite important.[4]

Other reactions

Ornithine, via the action of ornithine decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.17), is the starting point for the synthesis of polyamines such as putrescine.

In bacteria, such as E. coli, ornithine can be synthesized from L-glutamate.[5]

Ornithine lactamization

Research

Exercise fatigue

L-Ornithine supplementation attenuated fatigue in subjects in a placebo-controlled study using a cycle ergometer. The results suggested that L-ornithine has an antifatigue effect in increasing the efficiency of energy consumption and promoting the excretion of ammonia.[6][7]

Weightlifting supplement

Amino acid supplements, including L-ornithine, are frequently marketed to bodybuilders and weightlifters with claims for increasing levels of human growth hormone (HGH), muscle mass, and strength. A 1993 short 4-day clinical study reported that L-ornithine in combination with L-arginine and L-lysine at 2 g/d each did not increase HGH.[8] A review from 2002 on the topic concluded "The use of specific amino acids to stimulate GH release by athletes is not recommended."[9]

Cirrhosis

L-Ornithine L-aspartate (LOLA), a stable salt of ornithine and aspartic acid, has been used in the treatment of cirrhosis[10] and hepatic encephalopathy.[11]

References

  1. Weast, Robert C., ed (1981). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (62nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. C-408. ISBN 0-8493-0462-8. 
  2. "Ornithine and its role in metabolic diseases: An appraisal". Biomed Pharmacother 86: 185–194. February 2017. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.12.024. PMID 27978498. 
  3. "Mechanism of inactivation of ornithine transcarbamoylase by Ndelta -(N'-Sulfodiaminophosphinyl)-L-ornithine, a true transition state analogue? Crystal structure and implications for catalytic mechanism". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 275 (26): 20012–9. June 2000. doi:10.1074/jbc.M000585200. PMID 10747936. 
  4. "Reasons for the occurrence of the twenty coded protein amino acids". Journal of Molecular Evolution 17 (5): 273–84. 1981. doi:10.1007/BF01795749. PMID 7277510. Bibcode1981JMolE..17..273W. http://physwww.mcmaster.ca/~higgsp/3D03/WeberReasons.pdf. 
  5. Ornithine Biosynthesis. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London. http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iubmb/enzyme/reaction/AminoAcid/Orn.html. Retrieved 2007-08-17. 
  6. "L-ornithine supplementation attenuates physical fatigue in healthy volunteers by modulating lipid and amino acid metabolism". Nutrition Research 28 (11): 738–43. November 2008. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2008.08.008. PMID 19083482. 
  7. "The effect of L-ornithine hydrochloride ingestion on performance during incremental exhaustive ergometer bicycle exercise and ammonia metabolism during and after exercise". European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 64 (10): 1166–71. October 2010. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.149. PMID 20717126. 
  8. "Low-dose amino acid supplementation: no effects on serum human growth hormone and insulin in male weightlifters". International Journal of Sport Nutrition 3 (3): 290–7. September 1993. doi:10.1123/ijsn.3.3.290. PMID 8220394. 
  9. "Use of amino acids as growth hormone-releasing agents by athletes". Nutrition 18 (7–8): 657–61. 2002. doi:10.1016/s0899-9007(02)00807-9. PMID 12093449. 
  10. "[Physiological functions of L-ornithine and L-aspartate in the body and the efficacy of administration of L-ornithine-L-aspartate in conditions of relative deficiency"]. Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski 28 (168): 490–5. June 2010. PMID 20642112. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45273344. 
  11. "L-Ornithine L-Aspartate (LOLA) for Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis: Results of Randomized Controlled Trials and Meta-Analyses". Drugs 79 (Suppl 1): 31–37. February 2019. doi:10.1007/s40265-018-1024-1. PMID 30706425. 

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