histidine
/ˈhɪstɪdiːn
/noun [mass noun] Biochemistry
A basic amino acid which is a constituent of most proteins. It is an essential nutrient in the diet of vertebrates, and is the source from which histamine is derived in the body.
- Chemical formula: C6H9N3O2.
- In humans, histamine is synthesized from histidine, a conditionally-essential amino acid.
- The amount of the amino acids threonine, proline and histidine were also increased in roots of slag-cultivated maize plants.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Greek histos 'web, tissue' + -ide + -ine4.