How Do You Spell ARGININOSUCCINIC ACID?

1. Argininosuccinic acid, also known as ASA or ASA lyase, is a biochemical compound belonging to the class of organic acids. It is derived from the amino acid arginine through a series of enzymatic reactions in the urea cycle, which occurs primarily in the liver. In terms of its chemical structure, argininosuccinic acid consists of a dicarboxylic acid with two nitrogen atoms, one of which is derived from arginine.

   Argininosuccinic acid plays a crucial role in the urea cycle, which is responsible for the removal of nitrogenous waste from the body, specifically in the conversion of ammonia to urea. This compound serves as an intermediate in the process, acting as a substrate for the enzyme argininosuccinate lyase.

   Deficiency or dysfunction of the enzyme responsible for breaking down argininosuccinic acid can lead to the accumulation of this metabolite in the body, resulting in a rare genetic disorder known as argininosuccinic aciduria. This condition is characterized by elevated levels of argininosuccinic acid and ammonia in the blood, causing a wide range of symptoms including intellectual disability, developmental delays, seizures, and liver dysfunction.

   In a clinical setting, the measurement of argininosuccinic acid levels in body fluids, such as blood or urine, can be utilized as a diagnostic tool to identify and monitor patients with argininosuccinic aciduria and other related metabolic disorders. Moreover, studies have also suggested that argininosuccinic acid may serve as a potential biomarker for certain cancers and inborn errors of metabolism.

Common Misspellings for ARGININOSUCCINIC ACID

The word "argininosuccinic acid" is derived from several components:

1. Arginine: This term originates from the Latin word "argentinus", meaning "shiny white", referring to the shiny appearance of the pure compound. It was later derived from the name of a chemical compound, "argental", meaning "pertaining to silver". Arginine itself is an amino acid that was first isolated from a type of lupine (Lupinus argentus, hence the name) by Swiss chemist Ernst Schulze in 1886.

2. Suc - from succinic acid: "Suc" is an abbreviation of succinic acid, which derives its name from Latin "succinum", meaning "amber". The term is related to the fact that succinic acid was first obtained by distilling amber, a fossilized tree resin, which has a yellowish-brown color.