Isoleucine

Isoleucine is one of the 20 basic amino acids, and forms part of the structure of almost all proteins. It is coded for in DNA. Its chemical composition is identical to that of leucine, but the arrangement of its atoms is slightly different, resulting in different properties. Nutritionally, in humans, isoleucine is an essential amino acid. Isoleucine is a hydrophobic amino acid. Its three letter code is ILE and its one letter code is I.

Isoleucine has two chiral centers; therefore there are four possible stereoisomers of isoleucine and two possible diastereomers of L-isoleucine. However, isoleucine present in nature exists in one enantiomeric form, (2S,3S)-2-amino-3-methylpentanoic acid.
Rich sources of isoleucine are eggs, chicken, pork, mutton, pulses, soya beans, cottage cheese, milk, piyal seeds, cashew nuts, and cereal grains.

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