Lysin, L-Lysine, amino acid K, is an essential amino acid, which means the body can not produce it, in humans. It must be taken in through diet or by supplementation. Lysine was first isolated from casein (a milk phosphoprotein) by Drechsel in 1889.(Walter Kluwer) Lysine is important for proper growth, and plays an essential role in the porduction of caritine, an nutrient responsible for converting fatty acids into energy and helping to lower cholesterol. Another role of lysine involves the absorption of calcium in the body as well as a role in the formation of collagen, and substance important for bones and connective tissues. A common use of lysin is to decrease to proliferation of the herpes virus.
Foods that are rich in protein are a good source of lysine which include red meat, pork, poultry, cheese, nuts, eggs, and soybeans to name a few. Low lysine levels symptoms include fatigue, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, and anemia. Since it helps the body absorb calcium and decreases the amount of calcium that is lost in urine, some researchers think lysine may help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis. Lab studies suggest that lysine in combination with L-arginine makes osteoblasts more active and enhances production of collagen. (University of Maryland).
The molecular formula for lysine is C6H14N2O2 with a molecular weight of 146. 19g/mol. It's Isoelectric point(pH) is 9.59 (Kirste) The pH values of each group are as follows: the alpha carboxylic acid group=2.18pH, alpha amino group=8.95pH, and finally the R side chain (CH2)4NH2=10.53pH.(Parrill)
The functional groups on it's side chain include an amino group (NH2) as well as an alkane carbon chain.
Lysine's long flexible side-chain with a positively charged end makes it suitable for binding to molecules with many negative charges on their surfaces. "For example, DNA-binding proteins have their active regions with arginine and lysine. The strong charge makes these two amino acids prone to be located on the outer hydrophilic surfaces of the proteins." The alpha amino group often participates in hydrogen bonding as a general base in catalysis. (New World Encyclopedia)
One of the peptides that contains Lysine is the mycobacterial dideoxymycobactin T cell antigens
which was synthesized to fight TB.
which was synthesized to fight TB.
(Antigenic DDM) 5
Sources:
1.Lysine. Review of Natural Products. factsandcomparisons4.0 [online]. 2005. Available from Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Accessed April 23, 2007.
2. Lysine. University of Maryland Medical Center. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lysine-000312.htm
Accessed March 23, 2011
3. Parrill, Abby. Amino Acid Structures. Michigan state University. http://www.cem.msu.edu/~cem252/sp97/ch24/ch24aa.html
Accessed March 23, 2011
5.Young, Moraski, Miller, and Moody. Solid-phase synthesis of mycobacterial dideoxymycobactin T cell antigens
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteLooks good except two things:
1) something funky going on with your font sizes...
2) Need to cite your references consistently in the text and include the full reference at the bottom.
:) Dr. M.
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very informative and well written blog about the amino acid lysine. I would like to say that the information on osteoporosis and bone loss is a really cool piece of information that was collected. Also, I would've like to see more about how its side chain binds to the negative charges and examples of these. However, I have nothing negative to say about your blog except that I don't have anything to add because your information was really informative and I really understood what was being presented.
John