too bad citrulline is too expensive for life extensionists

From: Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Date: Fri Feb 22 2002 - 10:53:02 MST


 Citrulline, a novel compatible solute in drought-tolerant wild watermelon
 leaves, is an efficient hydroxyl radical scavenger

 FEBS Letters 508: 438-442 2001

 Abstract: Drought-tolerant wild watermelon accumulates high levels of
 citrulline in the leaves in response to drought conditions. In this work,
 the hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity of citrulline was investigated
 in vitro. The second-order rate constant for the reaction between
 citrulline and hydroxyl radicals was found to be 3,900,000,000 M-1 s-1,
 demonstrating that citrulline is one of the most efficient scavengers
 among compatible solutes examined so far. Moreover, citrulline
 effectively protected DNA and an enzyme from oxidative injuries. Liquid
 chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that at least four
 major products were formed by the reaction between citrulline and
 hydroxyl radicals. Activities of metabolic enzymes were not inhibited by
 up to 600 mM citrulline, indicating that citrulline does not interfere
 with cellular metabolism. We reasoned, from these results, that
 citrulline contributes to oxidative stress tolerance under drought
 conditions as a novel hydroxyl radical scavenger.



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