L-Ornithine is a non-essential amino acid, metabolized to generate L-arginine, which is further incorporated into proteins. α-Ketoglutarate is a key intermediate in the Krebs cycle, coming after isocitrate and before succinyl CoA. Acting as a co-substrate, α-Ketoglutarate also plays important function in oxidation reactions involving molecular oxygen.
CAT No: 10-101-118
CAS No:5144-42-3 (net)
Synonyms/Alias:OKG; OAKG; L-Ornithine 2-oxoglutarate monohydrate
L-Ornithine α-Ketoglutarate Monohydrate, often referred to as OKG Monohydrate, is a unique carbohydrate compound that combines the amino acid derivative L-ornithine with α-ketoglutarate, a key intermediate in the Krebs cycle. This synergistic molecule has garnered significant interest for its multifaceted roles in metabolic pathways, cellular energy production, and nitrogen balance. As a crystalline, water-soluble powder, OKG Monohydrate is prized for its stability and ease of incorporation into various research and industrial formulations. Its chemical structure allows it to participate in both anabolic and catabolic processes, positioning it as a versatile tool for scientists investigating cellular metabolism, amino acid biochemistry, and advanced nutritional science.
Metabolic Research: L-Ornithine α-Ketoglutarate Monohydrate serves as a valuable reagent in metabolic studies, particularly those focused on nitrogen metabolism and the urea cycle. By providing both ornithine and α-ketoglutarate, it supports the investigation of ammonia detoxification and the recycling of nitrogenous waste, processes that are central to cellular homeostasis. Researchers utilize OKG Monohydrate to elucidate the mechanisms by which cells regulate nitrogen flow, offering insights into disorders characterized by altered nitrogen balance. Its dual action in both the urea and Krebs cycles makes it an essential component for experiments aiming to map metabolic flux and energy production under various physiological conditions.
Cell Culture Supplementation: OKG Monohydrate is frequently used as a supplement in cell culture media to enhance cell viability and proliferation. The compound provides an additional source of key metabolites, supporting the biosynthesis of amino acids and nucleotides necessary for rapid cell growth. By improving the metabolic environment, it can help optimize in vitro models for basic research, drug screening, and bioprocess development. Scientists leverage its properties to maintain robust cell cultures, particularly in studies involving hepatocytes, myocytes, and other metabolically active cells, where efficient nitrogen utilization is critical.
Nutritional Biochemistry: In the field of nutritional research, L-Ornithine α-Ketoglutarate Monohydrate is studied for its potential to influence protein metabolism and muscle physiology. Investigators explore its effects on protein synthesis, amino acid turnover, and muscle recovery, using it as a model compound to dissect the interplay between dietary nutrients and metabolic health. By modulating the availability of ornithine and α-ketoglutarate, researchers can assess how these metabolites affect anabolic and catabolic signaling pathways, providing a foundation for the development of advanced nutritional supplements and functional foods.
Biochemical Pathway Analysis: The integration of OKG Monohydrate into experimental protocols enables detailed analysis of biochemical pathways involving transamination, deamination, and energy production. Its presence facilitates the tracing of carbon and nitrogen atoms through complex metabolic networks, aiding in the identification of regulatory nodes and potential metabolic bottlenecks. Scientists employ isotopically labeled forms of the compound to track metabolic intermediates, contributing to a deeper understanding of cellular adaptation to stress, nutrient availability, and energy demands.
Industrial Fermentation: In industrial biotechnology, L-Ornithine α-Ketoglutarate Monohydrate is utilized as a fermentation additive to optimize microbial production processes. By enhancing nitrogen assimilation and supporting the biosynthesis of essential compounds, it can improve yields of target metabolites such as amino acids, organic acids, and bioactive peptides. Process engineers incorporate OKG Monohydrate into fermentation media to boost microbial growth, increase productivity, and achieve consistent product quality, particularly in large-scale manufacturing of specialty biochemicals.
Sports Science Research: The compound also finds application in sports science laboratories, where it is investigated for its potential role in modulating exercise-induced metabolic changes. Researchers study how supplementation with OKG Monohydrate influences markers of muscle fatigue, nitrogen balance, and recovery following intense physical activity. By examining its effects on metabolic pathways relevant to athletic performance, scientists aim to uncover new strategies for supporting muscle maintenance and optimizing post-exercise recovery protocols. Through these diverse application directions, L-Ornithine α-Ketoglutarate Monohydrate continues to advance research across multiple scientific disciplines, underscoring its value as a multifaceted biochemical tool.
Intracerebroventricular injection of L-ornithine has demonstrated sedative and hypnotic effects in neonatal chicks exposed to acute stressful conditions. However, whether orally administered L-ornithine can reduce acute mental stress remains to be defined. To clarify the nutritional importance of L-ornithine in controlling the stress response, in Experiment 1 we first investigated whether orally administered L-ornithine can be transported into the brain of mice. Mice were orally administered L-ornithine (3 mmol/water 10 ml/kg, per os). L-Ornithine levels were significantly elevated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus at 30 and 60 minutes post-administration. In Experiment 2, the effect of orally administered L-ornithine (0, 0.1875, 0.75 and 3 mmol/water 10 ml/kg, per os) on anxiety-like behavior in mice exposed to the elevated plus-maze test was examined at 30 minutes post-administration. There was a significant increase in the percentage of time spent and entries in the open arms in the group receiving 0.75 mmol of L-ornithine compared to the control group. Furthermore, locomotion activity in a novel environment was not significantly changed between the control group and 0.75 mmol of L-ornithine group in Experiment 3. Therefore, it appears that orally administrated L-ornithine is bioavailable to the rodent brain and reduces anxiety-like behavior as demonstrated by the elevated plus-maze test.
Kurata, K., Nagasawa, M., Tomonaga, S., Aoki, M., Morishita, K., Denbow, D. M., & Furuse, M. (2011). Orally administered L-ornithine elevates brain L-ornithine levels and has an anxiolytic-like effect in mice. Nutritional neuroscience, 14(6), 243-248.
L-Ornithine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid, abundant in freshwater clams and commercially available as an oral nutritional supplement. L-Ornithine is metabolized by ornithine-δ-aminotransferase. Deficiency of this enzyme causes gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina, an autosomal recessive hereditary disease characterized by the triad of progressive chorioretinal degeneration, early cataract formation, and type II muscle fiber atrophy, with hyperornithinemia. However, it is unknown whether long-term L-ornithine supplementation affects visual function and retinal histology. The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of long-term supplementation of excess amounts of L-ornithine on visual function and retinal histology in rats. Male Brown Norway rats at six weeks of age were allowed free access to chow containing 4% (w/w) L-ornithine (the high ornithine diet) or that containing 4% (w/w) casein (the control diet) for 49 weeks. The dose of L-ornithine calculated from the food intake was approximately 0.8 g/d/animal, which was 100 times higher than the recommended dose for healthy humans. The amplitude of the a-wave of the scotopic rod-cone electroretinogram and the number of cells in the ganglion cell layer in the L-ornithine-treated group were larger than those in the control group 49 weeks after initiating the test diet. No functional or histological damage to the retina was seen up to 49 weeks after the start of the high-ornithine diet. The present study demonstrated that long-term supplementation of very high doses of L-ornithine for at least 49 weeks did not induce retinal damage.
Sakamoto, K., Mori, A., Nakahara, T., Morita, M., & Ishii, K. (2015). Effect of long-term treatment of L-ornithine on visual function and retinal histology in the rats. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 38(1), 139-143.
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