About Asparagine

Asparagine is a non-essential and polar amino acid. It is one of the twenty amino acids required for healthy human functioning. Asparagine is considered “non-essential” since the body can synthesize it from another compound, aspartic acid.

Asparagine plays many important roles in our bodies. It is needed for the synthesis of various proteins, including the production of cellular proteins. Asparagine is also necessary to maintain the balance of the central nervous system. Along with citrulline and ornithine, it also plays a crucial role in the urea cycle, a bodily process that allows the elimination of ammonia, which is toxic in the human body.

Moreover, asparagine is involved in the metabolic control of nerve and brain tissue cell functions. It also contributes to the amino acid conversion by our liver and plays a critical role in regulating cellular adaptation to glutamine depletion.

Biostarks reference ranges for asparagine

• Asparagine (Asn-S): 29-110 umol/L

Scientific references:

• Zhang, J. et al. (2014). Asparagine plays a critical role in regulating cellular adaptation to glutamine depletion. Molecular cell, 56(2), 205-218.
• Steward, F. C., & Thompson, J. F. (1952). Properties and physiological role of asparagine and glutamine, with a new interpretation of the structure of asparagine. Nature, 169(4305), 739-742.
• Iturrioz, X., Rozenfeld, R., Michaud, A., Corvol, P., & Llorens-Cortes, C. (2001). Study of asparagine 353 in aminopeptidase A: characterization of a novel motif (GXMEN) implicated in exopeptidase specificity of monozinc aminopeptidases. Biochemistry, 40(48), 14440-14448.