Biochemistry of Amino Acids - A. Meister 1961

Natural Amino Acids
Peptides and Related Compounds
Carnosine and Anserine

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Carnosine was isolated from Muscle tissue by Gulevich and Amiradzhibi [386] in 1900; it was later established to have The Structure of β-alanyl-L-Histidine [387, 388]. Anserine, a 1-N-methyl derivative of carnosine, is also a constituent of vertebrate Muscles [389–391]. Although the presence of relatively large quantities of carnosine and anserine in muscles has been known for a long time, the Functions of these substances remain comparatively poorly understood.

Carnosine is hydrolyzed to yield β-Alanine and histidine under the action of an enzyme (carnosinase) found in The Liver and Kidneys of certain animals [392]. The ability of carnosine to support the growth of animals [393] and microorganisms [394] (acting in place of histidine) can be attributed to its preliminary Enzymatic Hydrolysis. Anserine, first isolated from goose muscle, was subsequently discovered in the muscles of many other animals.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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