Arginine is an important amino acid that can be synthesized by ourselves. You can imagine our body as a house, and arginine is the brick that builds this house. It was isolated from lupine seedlings by scientists in 1886. We can obtain it from food such as meat, milk, and other protein-rich foods. We can also synthesize enough of it by utilizing ornithine. In some situations, such as after surgery, due to the insufficient arginine synthesized by ourselves, we need to consume arginine from the outside to promote wound recovery. What is the chemical structure of arginine? Why is it essential for us? What are the applications of it? Let’s learn together.
Chemical Structure of Arginine
As mentioned earlier, the key to its effectiveness lies in its chemical structure. The chemical formula of arginine is C6H14N4O2, with three functional groups.
lAmino:Arginine contains an alpha-amino group, which is one of its basic functional groups. Amino groups have alkalinity so they can accept protons to interact with other molecules. As a result, arginine can help us reach the acid-base balance. For example, amino groups can undergo dehydration condensation reactions with carboxyl groups to synthesize proteins.
lCarboxyl group:It has one carboxyl group, which is acidic and can release a proton. The presence of carboxyl groups endows amino acids with acidic properties and allows them to participate in various reactions. The process of protein formation mentioned above is the reaction between carboxyl and amino groups by forming peptide bonds to connect different amino acids.
lGuanidine:This is a unique functional group of arginine and endows it with alkalinity. Because it has a strong alkalinity and makes arginine a basic amino acid, it can form hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and so on. This is significant for protein structure and function and enzyme activity regulation.
These functional groups bring unique chemical properties to arginine and make it important in maintaining the functions and synthesizing proteins within our body. Nowadays, due to these properties, it has wide applications in the medical field. We will provide a detailed explanation in the following text.
Why Is It Essential for Organisms?
First of all, it is a fundamental component in protein synthesis as above. It can also promote the urea cycle, which is important for maintaining the nitrogen balance of the human body. Meanwhile, it plays a prominent role in immunity and wound healing. It can also stimulate the production of insulin to maintain blood sugar stability.
Arginine deficiency may lead to various health problems, here are three most obvious aspects.
lDecreased immune function: Lymphocytes are our most important warriors against pathogens. Arginine is crucial for the functioning of lymphocytes. If lacking, the proliferation and activity of T lymphocytes and natural killer cells will be inhibited. This will reduce the ability to resist pathogen invasion, making us more susceptible to illness and difficult to cure.
lIncreased risk of cardiovascular diseases: Nitric oxide has a vasodilatory effect, and a lack of nitric oxide can cause blood vessels to contract, increasing the risk of hypertension. At the same time, it can also make blood flow less smooth, increasing the possibility of thrombosis. Arginine is a raw material for the synthesis of nitric oxide, so its sufficiency is beneficial for cardiovascular health.
lDelayed development:For children and adolescents, arginine deficiency may affect normal development. Because arginine is essential in protein synthesis, its deficiency can hinder growth.
lSlow down wound healing:It can promote the synthesis of collagen. If there is a lack of arginine, the production of collagen will be insufficient, and the formation of new tissue will be slow, resulting in delayed wound healing. It is extremely detrimental to the recovery of surgical patients or trauma victims.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the chemical structure of arginineand its functions. Thanks to its chemical properties, it currently has important applications in medicine and nutrition. For example, it can help cardiovascular disease patients lower blood pressure and dilate blood vessels. It can also help patients recover faster and improve their immunity after surgery. For fitness enthusiasts, it can also promote muscle growth and recovery. You can consume more protein-rich foods such as fish, eggs, and milk to get enough arginine for good health.
Disclaimer: ECHEMI reserves the right of final explanation and revision for all the information.
