How a tiny machine in our body makes part of the stuff that helps muscles work
Crystal structure and mechanism of human L‐arginine:glycine amidinotransferase: a mitochondrial enzyme involved in creatine biosynthesis
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The enzyme has a completely new protein fold not seen before.
Most enzymes share structural similarities with known families, but this one has a 'new fold' with circular symmetry — unexpected for a human enzyme involved in a fundamental metabolic pathway.
Practical Takeaways
Understanding how creatine is made naturally in the body could inform future research into creatine supplementation or therapies for metabolic disorders.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The enzyme has a completely new protein fold not seen before.
Most enzymes share structural similarities with known families, but this one has a 'new fold' with circular symmetry — unexpected for a human enzyme involved in a fundamental metabolic pathway.
Practical Takeaways
Understanding how creatine is made naturally in the body could inform future research into creatine supplementation or therapies for metabolic disorders.
Publication
Journal
The EMBO Journal
Year
1998
Authors
A. Humm, E. Fritsche, S. Steinbacher, R. Huber
Related Content
Claims (4)
Scientists found out how a human enzyme that helps make creatine is shaped, and it turns out it has a unique basket-like structure with a tiny opening, kind of like a molecular cage.
When a certain human enzyme grabs onto a molecule called L-ornithine, it changes shape—like a hand closing around a ball—which might control how other molecules get in or out.
Scientists think a specific trio of amino acids—cysteine, histidine, and aspartic acid—work together like a team to help an enzyme in the human body do its job, based on how it looks when it’s holding onto its starting materials and products.
Your body makes creatine in two steps: first, it combines glycine and arginine to make a middle substance, then it adds a methyl group to turn that into creatine.