Chemical structure of lysine

Lysine is one of the 20 most common natural amino acids on Earth. Lysine is directly coded for in DNA and molecular biologists tend to abbreviate it to Lys or K. Nutritionally, in humans, lysine is an essential amino acid. Lysine can be used as a nutritional supplement to help against herpes.

Lysine is the limiting amino acid in all cereal grains, but is plentiful in all pulses. A deficiency in Lysine can result in a deficiency in niacin (which is a B Vitamin). This can cause the disease pellagra. Plants that contain significant amounts of lysine include:

• Buffalo Gourd (10,130–33,000 ppm) in Seed
• Berro , Watercress (1,340–26,800 ppm) in Herb.
• Soybean (24,290–26,560 ppm) in Seed.
• Carob, Locust Bean , St.John's-Bread (26,320 ppm) in Seed;
• Black Bean, Dwarf Bean, Field Bean, Flageolet Bean, French Bean, Garden Bean, Green Bean, Haricot, Haricot Bean, Haricot Vert, Kidney Bean, Navy Bean, Pop Bean, Popping Bean, Snap Bean, String Bean, Wax Bean (2,390–25,700 ppm) in Sprout Seedling;
• Ben Nut , Benzolive Tree , Drumstick Tree , Horseradish Tree , Jacinto (Sp.), Moringa, West Indian Ben (5,370–25,165 ppm) in Shoot.
• Lentil (7,120–23,735 ppm) in Sprout Seedling.
• Asparagus Pea , Goa Bean , Winged Bean (21,360–23,304 ppm) in Seed.
• Lambsquarter (3,540–22,550 ppm) in Seed.
• Lentil (19,570–22,035 ppm) in Seed.
• White Lupine (19,330–21,585 ppm) in Seed.
• Black Caraway, Black Cumin, Fennel-Flower , Nutmeg-Flower , Roman Coriander (16,200–20,700 ppm) in Seed.
• Spinach (1,740–20,664 ppm) in Plant.
• Amaranth, Quinoa

The decarboxylation of lysine yields cadaverine.