ornithine

or·ni·thine   (ôr'nə-thēn')    n.  An amino acid, C5H12N2O2, not found in proteins, formed by hydrolyzing arginine and important in the formation of urea. [ornith(uric acid), an acid found in birds' urine (ornith(o)- + uric acid) + -ine2.]

Main Entry: or·ni·thine
Pronunciation: 'or-n&-"thEn
Function: noun
: a crystalline amino acidC₅H₁₂N₂O₂ that functions especially in urea production as a carrier by undergoing conversion to citrulline and then arginine in reaction with ammonia andcarbon dioxide followed by recovery along with urea by enzymatic hydrolysis of arginine

ornithine or·ni·thine (ôr'nə-thēn')
n.

Abbr. Orn An amino acid formed by the hydrolysis of arginine and important in the formation of urea.

ornithine   (ôr'nə-thēn')  Pronunciation Key  An amino acid not found in proteins, formed by hydrolyzing arginine and important in the formation of urea. Chemical formula: C5H12N2O2.