L-Homoarginine
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L-Homoarginine

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L-homoarginine is a non-essential and non-proteinogenic amino acid, and acts as a competitive substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS), whereas asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a NOS inhibitor. It is also a human arginase inhibitor.

Category
L-Amino Acids
Catalog number
BAT-008137
CAS number
156-86-5
Molecular Formula
C7H16N4O2
Molecular Weight
188.23
L-Homoarginine
IUPAC Name
(2S)-2-amino-6-(diaminomethylideneamino)hexanoic acid
Synonyms
L-Lysine, N6-(aminoiminomethyl)-; Lysine, N6-amidino-; Lysine, N6-amidino-, L-; N6-(Aminoiminomethyl)-L-lysine; Homo-L-arginine; Homoarginine; NSC 27429; NSC 88868; N6-carbamimidoyl-L-lysine
Related CAS
13094-78-5 (Deleted CAS)
Appearance
White to off-white powder
Purity
≥95%
Density
1.39±0.1 g/cm3
Melting Point
207-209°C
Boiling Point
376.3±52.0°C at 760 mmHg
Storage
Store at 2-8°C under inert atmosphere
Solubility
Soluble in Acetone, Chloroform, Dichloromethane, DMSO, Ethyl Acetate
InChI
InChI=1S/C7H16N4O2/c8-5(6(12)13)3-1-2-4-11-7(9)10/h5H,1-4,8H2,(H,12,13)(H4,9,10,11)/t5-/m0/s1
InChI Key
QUOGESRFPZDMMT-YFKPBYRVSA-N
Canonical SMILES
C(CCN=C(N)N)CC(C(=O)O)N

L-Homoarginine, a non-proteinogenic amino acid, is structurally analogous to L-arginine but with an additional methylene group in its side chain. This modification imparts unique biochemical properties, distinguishing it from its more ubiquitous counterpart. L-Homoarginine is synthesized in the body through the action of lysine and arginine:glycine amidinotransferase. Its presence has been noted in various biological fluids and tissues, suggesting its involvement in multiple physiological processes. As research delves deeper into its functions, L-Homoarginine is becoming a subject of interest due to its potential roles in health and disease.

One critical industrial application of L-Homoarginine is in the field of biomedical research. It serves as a functional marker to study cardiovascular diseases. Elevated levels of L-Homoarginine have been linked to reduced cardiovascular risk, making it a valuable biomarker for assessing heart health. Researchers utilize this amino acid to explore its protective mechanisms in vascular health, aiming to develop novel therapeutic strategies for conditions like hypertension and atherosclerosis. This application underscores its significance in advancing cardiovascular research and potential treatment modalities.

Another significant application of L-Homoarginine is in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in drug development. Due to its structural similarity to L-arginine, it can be used to study enzyme inhibitors and the synthesis of certain therapeutic compounds. It aids in the development of drugs targeting nitric oxide synthase and other related enzymes, which are crucial in managing conditions such as erectile dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases. By understanding how L-Homoarginine interacts with these enzymes, pharmaceutical researchers can design more effective drugs with fewer side effects.

In the field of diagnostics, L-Homoarginine finds use as a reagent for detecting and quantifying nitric oxide metabolites. Its role in measuring these metabolites is critical for understanding various pathological and physiological states. For instance, imbalances in nitric oxide production are linked to diseases like diabetes and inflammatory conditions. Using L-Homoarginine as a reagent enables more accurate diagnostics, improving disease detection and monitoring. This application highlights its utility in enhancing the precision of diagnostic tests and thereby improving patient outcomes.

Lastly, L-Homoarginine is utilized in the nutrition and supplement industry. Its potential benefits for cardiovascular health and cognitive function have spurred interest in its use as a dietary supplement. By incorporating L-Homoarginine into nutritional products, manufacturers aim to provide consumers with new options for maintaining heart health and optimizing mental performance. Although still under extensive research, the promising effects of L-Homoarginine supplementation are gradually becoming recognized, paving the way for new health products catering to a broader consumer base. This application demonstrates its emerging role in health and wellness markets.

1. L-homoarginine is associated with decreased cardiovascular- and all-cause mortality
Maserame Cleopatra Mokhaneli, Shani Botha-Le Roux, Carla Maria Theresia Fourie, Rainer Böger, Edzard Schwedhelm, Catharina Martha Cornelia Mels Eur J Clin Invest. 2021 May;51(5):e13472. doi: 10.1111/eci.13472. Epub 2020 Dec 24.
Background: Increasing evidence suggests that L-homoarginine, an endogenous analogue of the amino acid L-arginine, may have beneficial effects on vascular homeostasis. We examined whether L-homoarginine is associated with 10-year risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a black South African population. Methods: We included 669 black South African participants (mean age 59.5 years), 143 of whom died during the 10-year follow-up period. Mortality data were acquired via verbal autopsy. Plasma L-homoarginine (and other related markers) were analysed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Survivors had higher L-homoarginine levels compared with nonsurvivors (1.25 µM vs. 0.89 µM; P < .001). Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed that higher plasma L-homoarginine predicted a reduction in 10-year cardiovascular (hazard ratio [HR] per SD increment, 0.61; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.75) and all-cause (hazard ratio [HR] per SD increment, 0.59; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.84) mortality risk. Conclusion: Higher L-homoarginine levels are associated with reduced risk of 10-year cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Regulation of L-homoarginine levels as a therapeutic target in the management of cardiovascular disease should be investigated.
2. L-homoarginine and cardiovascular disease
Dorothee Atzler, Edzard Schwedhelm, Chi-un Choe Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2015 Jan;18(1):83-8. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000123.
Purpose of review: An increasing number of reports indicate that low levels of the endogenous amino acid L-homoarginine are linked to cardiovascular disease. In this article, we review the current findings regarding L-homoarginine metabolism and (patho-)physiology with a focus on its clinical impact. Recent findings: Recent clinical and epidemiological studies revealed a strong association of low circulating L-homoarginine with cardiovascular outcomes and mortality. Human and murine studies identified L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) as the responsible enzyme for endogenous L-homoarginine formation, suggesting a further important function of AGAT apart from its involvement in creatine and energy metabolism. Further studies related L-homoarginine to smoking and hypertension, and metabolic phenotypes. Summary: AGAT deficiency results in diminished intracellular energy stores (i.e., ATP and phosphocreatine), as well as a lack of L-homoarginine, and has been linked to an improved metabolic risk profile, but also to impaired cardiac and cerebrovascular function. L-homoarginine's structural similarity to L-arginine suggested physiological interference with L-arginine pathways (e.g., nitric oxide). Animal experiments and clinical trials are needed to improve knowledge on the physiology of L-homoarginine and differentiate its role as marker and mediator in cardiovascular disease.
3. Possible sources and functions of L-homoarginine in the brain: review of the literature and own findings
Hans-Gert Bernstein, Kristin Jäger, Henrik Dobrowolny, Johann Steiner, Gerburg Keilhoff, Bernhard Bogerts, Gregor Laube Amino Acids. 2015 Sep;47(9):1729-40. doi: 10.1007/s00726-015-1960-y. Epub 2015 Mar 20.
L-Homoarginine is a cationic amino acid derivative, which is structurally related to L-arginine and lysine. Several lines of evidence point to nervous tissue as an important target of homoarginine action. In the mammalian brain homoarginine can be detected in noticeable quantities, but its origin is currently poorly explored. In part I of this review we try to show that both uptake and transport into brain (carried out by cationic amino acid transporters) and local synthesis in the brain (carried out by the homoarginine-synthesizing enzymes L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase and ornithine transcarbamylse) might contribute to homoarginine brain content. We then give a brief overview about the multiple effects of homoarginine on the healthy brain and show that both homoarginine excess and deficiency are potentially harmful to the central nervous system. In part II, we shortly report about own experiments with regard to the cellular localization of cationic amino acid transporters, as well the enzymes L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase and ornithine transcarbamylse, in human and rat brains.
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