Leu-Gln balances hydrophobicity with polar amide functionality, making it a versatile dipeptide for folding and hydrogen-bond investigations. Researchers explore its role in helix and coil formation. Solvent interactions help clarify side-chain contributions to stability. Applications include peptide-assembly modeling, enzymatic recognition, and motif analysis.
CAT No: R2661
CAS No:38062-70-3
Synonyms/Alias:leucyl-glutamine;L-LEUCYL-L-GLUTAMINE;Leu-Gln;(2S)-5-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-amino-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-5-oxopentanoic acid;38062-69-0;38062-70-3;H-Leu-Gln-OH;L-Glutamine, L-leucyl-;SCHEMBL4221705;CHEBI:157865;JYOAXOMPIXKMKK-YUMQZZPRSA-N;DTXSID201315363;AKOS010407396;(S)-5-Amino-2-((S)-2-amino-4-methylpentanamido)-5-oxopentanoic acid;
Leu-Gln, also known as the dipeptide L-leucyl-L-glutamine, is a synthetic peptide composed of the amino acids leucine and glutamine linked by a peptide bond. As a small, well-defined peptide, Leu-Gln serves as a valuable tool in biochemical research, particularly in studies exploring peptide structure-activity relationships, amino acid transport mechanisms, and protein metabolism. Its unique combination of a branched-chain amino acid (leucine) and a conditionally essential amino acid (glutamine) makes it relevant for investigations into nutrient signaling, cellular uptake pathways, and enzymatic specificity in peptide hydrolysis. The dipeptide's physicochemical properties and defined sequence enable precise experimentation in a variety of peptide-focused research areas.
Peptide transport studies: Leu-Gln is widely utilized in research examining the specificity and kinetics of peptide transporters, such as the proton-coupled oligopeptide transporters (PepT1 and PepT2) found in mammalian cells. By serving as a model substrate, the dipeptide helps elucidate the mechanisms governing dipeptide absorption, cellular uptake, and translocation across biological membranes. Its defined structure allows researchers to dissect the influence of side-chain chemistry and sequence orientation on transporter affinity and selectivity, contributing to a deeper understanding of nutrient assimilation and peptide-based drug delivery strategies.
Enzymatic hydrolysis assays: The dipeptide is frequently employed as a substrate in enzymatic assays designed to evaluate the activity and specificity of peptidases, such as dipeptidyl peptidase and aminopeptidase enzymes. By monitoring the hydrolysis of Leu-Gln, investigators can characterize enzyme kinetics, determine substrate preferences, and assess the impact of mutations or inhibitors on catalytic efficiency. Such studies are instrumental in advancing knowledge of proteolytic processing, peptide turnover, and the development of enzyme-targeted research tools.
Protein metabolism research: Incorporation of Leu-Gln into experimental systems enables detailed analysis of peptide-based nitrogen metabolism and amino acid recycling pathways. Researchers use the dipeptide to trace metabolic flux, investigate peptide utilization under varying nutritional states, and explore the interplay between dipeptide availability and cellular growth or differentiation. These applications are particularly relevant in cell culture models, where controlled supplementation with defined peptides can reveal insights into metabolic regulation and adaptive responses.
Peptide synthesis and analytical method development: Leu-Gln serves as a reference standard and calibration compound in peptide synthesis workflows and analytical techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry. Its well-characterized properties make it suitable for validating chromatographic separation, optimizing detection parameters, and benchmarking method sensitivity. The use of such defined peptides ensures reproducibility and accuracy in quantitative peptide analysis, facilitating the development and quality control of peptide-based products.
Nutrient signaling investigations: The combination of leucine and glutamine within a dipeptide context provides a model system for studying nutrient sensing and signaling pathways. Researchers employ Leu-Gln to probe the effects of peptide-bound amino acids on cellular signaling cascades, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which is sensitive to leucine availability. These studies help clarify the contributions of dipeptides to cellular nutrient sensing mechanisms, expanding our understanding of how peptide forms of amino acids influence metabolic regulation and cellular homeostasis.
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