Aliphatic amino acid. Un
charged,
nonpolar,
hydrophobic. Has the same chemical formula as
isoleucine, but with one of the
methyl groups moved to another
carbon. Commonly used in
DNA binding proteins to
dimerize two alpha-helices (see:
leucine zipper).
Formula: C
6H
13NO
2
Molecular Weight: 131.17
Three-letter code:
Leu
One-letter code: L