definition
Asparagine is a nonessential amino acid with the chemical formula C4H8N2O3 which is present in large amounts in some plants, such as asparagus. It is a diuretic and is also used as a culture medium for certain bacteria[1].
DISCOVERY
The French chemists Nicolas-Louis Vauquelin and Pierre Jean Robiquet discovered[2] asparagine in 1806 after heating asparagus juice, evaporating and subsequently crystallising the solution. Here is a photograph[3] of an aparagine crystal:
[ux_image_box img=”1678″ image_width=”50″ link=”https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330158557_GROWTH_AND_CHARACTERIZATIONS-OF-L-ASPARAGINE_SINGLE_CRYSTALS” target=”_blank”]
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discoverers
Here is a lithograph[4] of Nicolas-Louis Vauquelin:
[ux_image_box img=”1681″ image_width=”40″ link=”https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicolas-Louis-Vauquelin” target=”_blank”]
1763-1829
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Here is a portrait[5] of Pierre Jean Robiquet:
[ux_image_box img=”1684″ image_width=”40″ link=”https://gw.geneanet.org/pierfit?lang=en&n=robiquet&oc=0&p=pierre+jean” target=”_blank”]
1780-1840
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sources
- https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/ asparagine
- https://books.google.ae/books?id=ad4EAAAAQAAJ& source=gbs_navlinks_s, pages 154-158.
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330158557_ GROWTH_AND_CHARACTERIZATIONS-OF-L-ASPARAGINE_ SINGLE_CRYSTALS
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicolas-Louis- Vauquelin
- https://gw.geneanet.org/pierfit?lang=en&n=robiquet&oc= 0&p=pierre+jean