citrulline

[ si-truh-leen ]

nounBiochemistry.
  1. an amino acid, NH2CONH(CH2)3CHNH2COOH, abundant in watermelons and an intermediate compound in the urea cycle.

Origin of citrulline

1
1930; <New Latin citrull(us) the watermelon genus (Medieval Latin citrul(l)us, citrolus, Latinization of South Italian citrulo, Tuscan citri(u)olo<Late Latin citrium watermelon (derivative of Latincitrus (see citrus); apparently in reference to the citroncolored fruit of some types of watermelon), with -uolo<Latin -eolus) + -ine2

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British Dictionary definitions for citrulline

citrulline

/ (ˈsɪtrəˌliːn) /


noun
  1. an amino acid that occurs in watermelons and is an intermediate in the formation of urea. Formula: NH 2 CONH(CH 2) 3 CHNH 2 COOH

Origin of citrulline

1
C20: from Medieval Latin citrullus a kind of watermelon, from Latin citron, referring to its colour

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for citrulline

citrulline

[ sĭtrə-lēn′ ]


  1. An amino acid originally isolated from watermelon, occurring mostly in the liver as an intermediate in the conversion of ornithine to arginine during urea formation. Chemical formula: C6H13N3O3.

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