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Isoleucine is an essential amino acid important for many biochemical reactions in the body. It is found in animal and plant sources, and supplements may be necessary for those on low-protein diets or who exercise vigorously. Isoleucine, along with leucine and valine, make up a significant amount of skeletal muscle and can be metabolized to regulate blood sugar levels. Rare genetic disorders of isoleucine metabolism can cause serious brain problems. BCAAs have hydrophobic side chains and affect protein structure and binding. Isoleucine exists as L-isoleucine and has four stereoisomers.
Isoleucine is an essential amino acid for the diet of humans and animals. It must be obtained from external food sources. This amino acid is important for many biochemical reactions in the body and errors in metabolism can have drastic consequences. It is also used to treat burn victims and is taken as a supplement by body builders.
Proteins are made up of chains of amino acids, which always contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. They have a carboxylate group (COOH) on one side and an amino group (NH2) on the other. The rest of the molecule varies. The structure of isoleucine has a side chain composed of a branch of four carbon atoms with associated hydrogen atoms and does not contain double bonds. It’s called the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA), along with the amino acids leucine and valine.
All of these amino acids are essential for humans and animals. They are normally consumed as a protein component. Animal food can provide all the essential amino acids, but there are also others needed to synthesize proteins. Certain plant sources provide the majority of these necessary amino acids, and if you eat many different plant foods, this should lead to a diet that contains all the amino acids needed for the body to function properly.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that an adult with a body weight of 154 pounds (70 kg) consume 0.5 ounces (1.4 g) of isoleucine per day. Most people already get enough from their diets, but people who are on a low-protein diet or exercise vigorously sometimes need to take supplements. If you take these, you should be sure that they provide the right balance of leucine and valine. If you have problems with kidney or liver function, consult a doctor before taking these amino acids.
Leucine, valine, and isoleucine make up a significant amount of skeletal muscle in the human body. Protein synthesis is another function. Isoleucine and valine can also be metabolized during fasting or strenuous exercise to form glucose, helping regulate blood sugar levels.
Some people have rare genetic disorders of isoleucine metabolism which can be detected by the presence of breakdown products in the urine. Such diseases can cause serious brain problems, along with other symptoms. One such ailment is known as maple syrup urine disease and involves a buildup of all the BCAAs and their breakdown products.
All BCAAs have hydrophobic side chains, which means they are repelled by water. Because of this tendency, they tend to bury themselves inside the molecules. This gives them a significant effect on maintaining the three-dimensional structure of proteins. They may also be involved in protein binding and recognition of hydrophobic compounds, such as lipids.
Isoleucine is present in only one form in protein, and that is L-isoleucine. The molecule has the ability to exist as different shapes which are mirror images of each other. These are referred to as stereoisomers. There are four of them: D- and L-isoleucine and D- and L-alloisoleucine.
