Citrulline
Encyclopedia
The organic compound
citrulline is an α-amino acid
. Its name is derived from citrullus, the Latin
word for watermelon
, from which it was first isolated in 1930.
It has the idealized formula
H2NC(O)NH(CH2)3CH(NH2)CO2H. It is a key intermediate in the urea cycle
, the pathway by which mammals excrete ammonia
.
and carbamoyl phosphate
in one of the central reactions in the urea cycle. It is also produced from arginine
as a by-product of the reaction catalyzed by NOS
family (NOS; EC 1.14.13.39). Arginine is first oxidized into N-hydroxyl-arginine, which is then further oxidized to citrulline concomitant with release of nitric oxide.
directly, several proteins are known to contain citrulline as a result of a posttranslational modification
. These citrulline residues are generated by a family of enzymes called peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs), which convert arginine into citrulline in a process called citrullination
or deimination. Proteins that normally contain citrulline residues include myelin basic protein
(MBP), filaggrin
, and several histone
proteins, whereas other proteins, such as fibrin
and vimentin
are susceptible to citrullination during cell death and tissue inflammation
.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis
often have detectable antibodies against proteins containing citrulline. Although the origin of this immune response is not known, detection of antibodies reactive with citrulline (anti-citrullinated protein antibodies
) containing proteins or peptides is now becoming an important help in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
In recent studies, citrulline has been found to relax blood vessels.
is sold as a performance-enhancing athletic dietary supplement
, which was shown to reduce muscle fatigue in a preliminary clinical trial.
The rind of watermelon
(Citrullus lanatus) is a good natural source of citrulline.
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
citrulline is an α-amino acid
Amino acid
Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain that varies between different amino acids. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen...
. Its name is derived from citrullus, the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word for watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
, from which it was first isolated in 1930.
It has the idealized formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
H2NC(O)NH(CH2)3CH(NH2)CO2H. It is a key intermediate in the urea cycle
Urea cycle
The urea cycle is a cycle of biochemical reactions occurring in many animals that produces urea from ammonia . This cycle was the first metabolic cycle discovered , five years before the discovery of the TCA cycle...
, the pathway by which mammals excrete ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
.
Biosynthesis
Citrulline is made from ornithineOrnithine
Ornithine is an amino acid that plays a role in the urea cycle.-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....
and carbamoyl phosphate
Carbamoyl phosphate
Carbamoyl phosphate is an anion of biochemical significance. In land-dwelling animals it is an intermediary metabolite participating in the nitrogen disposal through in the urea cycle and the synthesis of pyrimidines....
in one of the central reactions in the urea cycle. It is also produced from arginine
Arginine
Arginine is an α-amino acid. The L-form is one of the 20 most common natural amino acids. At the level of molecular genetics, in the structure of the messenger ribonucleic acid mRNA, CGU, CGC, CGA, CGG, AGA, and AGG, are the triplets of nucleotide bases or codons that codify for arginine during...
as a by-product of the reaction catalyzed by NOS
Nitric oxide synthase
Nitric oxide synthases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the production of nitric oxide from L-arginine. NO is an important cellular signaling molecule, having a vital role in many biological processes...
family (NOS; EC 1.14.13.39). Arginine is first oxidized into N-hydroxyl-arginine, which is then further oxidized to citrulline concomitant with release of nitric oxide.
Function
Although citrulline is not coded for by DNADNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
directly, several proteins are known to contain citrulline as a result of a posttranslational modification
Posttranslational modification
Posttranslational modification is the chemical modification of a protein after its translation. It is one of the later steps in protein biosynthesis, and thus gene expression, for many proteins....
. These citrulline residues are generated by a family of enzymes called peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs), which convert arginine into citrulline in a process called citrullination
Citrullination
Citrullination or deimination is the term used for the post-translational modification of the amino acid arginine in a protein into the amino acid citrulline. This reaction, shown below, is performed by enzymes called peptidylarginine deiminases...
or deimination. Proteins that normally contain citrulline residues include myelin basic protein
Myelin basic protein
Myelin basic protein is a protein believed to be important in the process of myelination of nerves in the central nervous system .MBP was initially sequenced in 1971 after isolation from myelin membranes...
(MBP), filaggrin
Filaggrin
Filaggrin is a filament-associated protein that binds to keratin fibers in epithelial cells.-Profilaggrin:Filaggrin monomers are tandemly clustered into a large, 350kDa protein precursor known as profilaggrin. In the epidermis, these structures are present in the keratohyalin granules in cells of...
, and several histone
Histone
In biology, histones are highly alkaline proteins found in eukaryotic cell nuclei that package and order the DNA into structural units called nucleosomes. They are the chief protein components of chromatin, acting as spools around which DNA winds, and play a role in gene regulation...
proteins, whereas other proteins, such as fibrin
Fibrin
Fibrin is a fibrous, non-globular protein involved in the clotting of blood. It is a fibrillar protein that is polymerised to form a "mesh" that forms a hemostatic plug or clot over a wound site....
and vimentin
Vimentin
Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament protein that is expressed in mesenchymal cells. IF proteins are found in all metazoan cells as well as bacteria. IF, along with tubulin-based microtubules and actin-based microfilaments, comprise the cytoskeleton...
are susceptible to citrullination during cell death and tissue inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
often have detectable antibodies against proteins containing citrulline. Although the origin of this immune response is not known, detection of antibodies reactive with citrulline (anti-citrullinated protein antibodies
Anti-citrullinated protein antibody
Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies or anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies are autoantibodies that are frequently detected in the blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients...
) containing proteins or peptides is now becoming an important help in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
In recent studies, citrulline has been found to relax blood vessels.
Sources
Citrulline in the form of citrulline malateMalic acid
Malic acid is an organic compound with the formula HO2CCH2CHOHCO2H. It is a dicarboxylic acid which is made by all living organisms, contributes to the pleasantly sour taste of fruits, and is used as a food additive. Malic acid has two stereoisomeric forms , though only the L-isomer exists...
is sold as a performance-enhancing athletic dietary supplement
Dietary supplement
A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, that may be missing or may not be consumed in sufficient quantities in a person's diet...
, which was shown to reduce muscle fatigue in a preliminary clinical trial.
The rind of watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
(Citrullus lanatus) is a good natural source of citrulline.