Carnosine

Carnosine
Names
	IUPAC name β-Alanylhistidine
	Systematic IUPAC name (2S)-2-(3-Aminopropanamido)-3-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)propanoic acid
	Other names β-Alanyl-L-histidine
Identifiers
CAS Number	305-84-0 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image; Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:15727 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL242948 ;
ChemSpider	388363 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.005.610
IUPHAR/BPS	4559;
KEGG	C00386 ;
PubChem CID	439224;
UNII	8HO6PVN24W ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID80879594 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C9H14N4O3/c10-2-1-8(14)13-7(9(15)16)3-6-4-11-5-12-6/h4-5,7H,1-3,10H2,(H,11,12)(H,13,14)(H,15,16)/t7-/m0/s1 Key: CQOVPNPJLQNMDC-ZETCQYMHSA-N ; InChI=1/C9H14N4O3/c10-2-1-8(14)13-7(9(15)16)3-6-4-11-5-12-6/h4-5,7H,1-3,10H2,(H,11,12)(H,13,14)(H,15,16)/t7-/m0/s1 Key: CQOVPNPJLQNMDC-ZETCQYMHBX;
	SMILES O=C(O)C(NC(=O)CCN)Cc1c[nH]cn1; c1c(nc[nH]1)C[C@@H](C(=O)O)NC(=O)CCN;
Properties
Chemical formula	C9H14N4O3
Molar mass	226.236 g·mol−1
Appearance	Crystalline solid
Melting point	253 °C (487 °F; 526 K) (decomposition)
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) is a dipeptide molecule, made up of the amino acids beta-alanine and histidine. It is highly concentrated in muscle and brain tissues. Carnosine was discovered by Russian chemist Vladimir Gulevich.

Carnosine is naturally produced by the body in the liver from beta-alanine and histidine. Like carnitine, carnosine is composed of the root word carn, meaning "flesh", alluding to its prevalence in meat. There are no plant-based sources of carnosine. Carnosine is readily available as a synthetic nutritional supplement.

Carnosine can chelate divalent metal ions. Carnosine is also considered a geroprotectant.

Products containing carnosine are also used in topical preparations to reduce wrinkles on the skin.

Carnosine may increase the Hayflick limit in human fibroblasts, it also appears to reduce the rate of telomere shortening. This could potentially promote the growth of certain cancers that thrive due to telomere preservation.