BASEBiological Archive
for Science & Education
Search
HomeMetabolismArginine
MoleculeMETABOLITE RECORD

Arginine

A nitrogen-rich amino acid that is cleaved to urea and ornithine in the urea cycle.

6-carbon moleculeUrea cycleHomo sapiens
REFERENCE IDENTIFIERCHEBI:16467ChEBI record
BUILD UP YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Learn about Arginine

Arginine is a small molecule that cells make, use, or change in connected metabolic reactions.

Start here for the main idea. Choose Learn for reactions and connections.

Record type: molecule. A nitrogen-rich amino acid that is cleaved to urea and ornithine in the urea cycle.
QUICK FACTS

At a glance

Carbon backbone 6 CThis carbon count is shown where it is defined for the molecule.

FOLLOW THE BIOLOGY

Connected records

3 links
Used and produced inUrea cycleHandled byArgininosuccinate lyaseHandled byArginase 1
STRUCTURED REACTIONS

Where it appears

Open metabolism map
4

Fumarate and arginine formation

Argininosuccinate lyase produces arginine and fumarate.

Urea cycle · irreversible
5

Urea release

Arginase hydrolyzes arginine, releasing urea and regenerating ornithine.

Urea cycle · irreversible