Homocitrulline and Homoarginine Synthesis from Lysine

Abstract

After the injection of L-lysine and uniformly labeled L-lysine-carbon-14 into the rat, labeled homocitrulline and homoarginine are found in the liver and kidney. The ingestion of lysine by seven normal adults results in an increased urinary excretion of homocitrulline and homoarginine. These data suggest the occurrence of an unreported metabolic pathway for lysine in the rat and man.