leu

(lĕ'ʊ)
n., pl., lei (lā).
A basic unit of currency in Romania.

[Romanian, from Latin leō, lion (from the image of a lion on a coin used in the late Ottoman Empire). See lion.]

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Monetary unit of Romania.

symbol for a residue of the α-amino acid l-leucine (alternative to L).

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Leu; a naturally occurring amino acid, essential for growth in the young and for nitrogen equilibrium in adults.

• l. aminopeptidase — a digestive enzyme of small intestine enterocytes (brush border).
• DL-l. — synthetic form of leucine.
• l. enkephalin — leu-enkephalin; see enkephalin.
• L-l. — natural form of leucine.
• l. zipper — a structured motif found in some DNA binding regulatory proteins formed from a region of α-helix containing at least four leucines, each separated by six amino acids from one another; the leucines align along one edge of the α-helix with one leucine at every second turn of the helix such that the leucine of one protein can interdigitate with the leucines of another protein in a zipper manner.

For a list of words related to leu, see:

• World Currencies - leu: currency of Moldova, Romania

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See words rhyming with "leu."

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