Ornithine lactam , L-
Application Notes
L-Ornithine lactam is an endogenous metabolite formed by the dehydration of the non-proteogenic amino acid L-ornithine. Excessive levels of L-ornithine lactam in plasma is diagnostic for a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the urea cycle. Rather whimsically, L-ornithine lactam is used in cosmetics as a skin whitening agent and moisturiser. Ornithine lactam is a biosynthetic precursor of sinefungin. Little is published on the biological activity of ornithine lactam.
References
- The hyperornithinemia–hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria syndrome. Martinelli D. et al. J Rare Dis 2015, 10, 29.
- Cosmetic and topical preparations containing ornithine lactam. Suetsugu M. and Yoshida Y. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho 2000, JP 2000086481 A 20000328.
- Identification of ornithine-lactam converted from arginine in Streptomyces incarnatus NRRL8089. Fukuda K. et al. Okayama Daigaku Nogakubu Gakujutsu Hokoku 2010, 99, 1.