ornithine
[ awr-nuh-theen ]
/ ˈɔr nəˌθin /
noun Biochemistry.
an amino acid, H2N(CH2)3CH(NH2)COOH, obtained by the hydrolysis of arginine and occurring as an intermediate compound in the urea cycle of mammals.
Origin of ornithine
1880–85;
ornith(uric acid), secreted by birds +
-ine2
Words nearby ornithine
ornery,
ornis,
ornith-,
ornith.,
ornithic,
ornithine,
ornithinuria,
ornithischian,
ornitho-,
ornithodoros,
ornithoid
British Dictionary definitions for ornithine
ornithine
/ (ˈɔːnɪˌθiːn) /
noun
an amino acid produced from arginine by hydrolysis: involved in the formation of urea in the liver; diaminopentanoic acid. Formula: NH 2 (CH 2) 3 CHNH 2 COOH
Word Origin for ornithine
C19: from
ornithuric (
acid) secreted in the urine of birds, from
ornitho- +
uric
Medical definitions for ornithine
ornithine
[ ôr′nə-thēn′ ]
n.
An amino acid formed by the hydrolysis of arginine and important in the formation of urea.
Scientific definitions for ornithine
ornithine
[ ôr′nə-thēn′ ]
An amino acid not found in proteins, formed by hydrolyzing arginine and important in the formation of urea. Chemical formula: C5H12N2O2.