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Ornithine

Meaning

Ornithine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that serves as a central and essential intermediate in the urea cycle, the specific biochemical pathway responsible for detoxifying and safely excreting excess nitrogen from the body in the form of urea. While this compound is not incorporated into structural proteins, ornithine is profoundly metabolically active, playing a vital and continuous role in ammonia detoxification, particularly within the hepatic tissue. It also functions as a crucial precursor for the endogenous synthesis of other important biological compounds, including citrulline, proline, and the polyamines.