arginase

enzyme

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Last updated

June 18, 2026

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Arginase is a crystalline enzyme that plays a crucial role in the body's metabolic processes. It is responsible for converting the naturally occurring amino acid arginine into ornithine and urea. Arginine itself is an important amino acid found in many proteins and is particularly abundant in protamines and histones. In mammals, arginine is vital for the synthesis of urea, which is the primary way these species excrete nitrogen. Arginine is considered a nonessential amino acid for adult mammals because they can produce it from glutamic acid.12

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metabolism
Disposal of nitrogen
…in a reaction catalyzed by arginase, is hydrolyzed [33]. Urea and ornithine are the products; ornithine thus is available to initiate another cycle beginning at step [31].
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…in a reaction catalyzed by arginase, is hydrolyzed [33]. Urea and ornithine are the products; ornithine thus is available to initiate another cycle beginning at step [31].
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