An essential amino acid for human development. Identified from organ extracts in 1856 by von Group-Besanez; isolated from proteins in 1879 by Schützenberger who proposed that it was aminovaleric acid. Structure confirmation: E. Fischer, Ber. 39, 2320 (1906). Early chemistry and biochemistry: Amino Acids and Proteins, D. M. Greenberg, Ed. (Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL, 1951) 950 pp., passim; J. P. Greenstein, M. Winitz, Chemistry of the Amino Acids vols 1-3 (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1961) pp. 2368-2380, passim. Conformation study: R. H. Yun, J. Hermans, Protein Eng. 4, 761 (1991). Nutritional assessment study: V. R. Young et al., J. Nutr. 102, 1159 (1972); in parenteral nutrition: P. Reiderer et al., Nutr. Metab. 24, 209 (1980); in hemodialysis patients: G. A. Young et al., Kidney Int. 21, 492 (1982). Brief review of metabolism: P. Kamoun, Trends Biochem. Sci. 17, 175-176 (1992).