HealthAugust 1, 2026

isoleucine

EYE-so-loo-seen

Definition

An essential amino acid that the body cannot produce on its own and must obtain from dietary sources, often studied for its role in metabolic signaling and protein synthesis.

Etymology

The word is formed from 'isomeric' and 'leucine', reflecting its nature as an isomer—a compound with the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms—of the amino acid leucine.

In the news

In the article, isoleucine is identified as one of the specific amino acids that acts as a metabolic signal, influencing pathways like mTOR that coordinate cell growth.

Eating less protein may support healthier aging

Read the full article ↗

Bioengineer.org

Related words

autophagy

A biological process in which cells degrade and recycle their own damaged or unnecessary…

Health

balkanization

The process of fragmentation or division of a region or state into smaller, often hostile…

Health

chimera

A thing that is hoped or wished for but is illusory or impossible to achieve.

Health

edict

An official public proclamation or order issued by an authority, carrying the force of…

Health

methionine

An essential sulfur-containing amino acid that serves as a fundamental building block for…

Health

omnipotence

The quality of having unlimited power, authority, or influence; the state of being…

Health

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.