Anserine, carnosine, β-alanine, and methylhistidine contained in animal and vegetable tissues were measured with an amino acid autoanalyzer, and quantitative characteristic of their distribution was examined. Distribution of their content varied greatly with animal and vegetable species, but the variation was not related to taxonomy. Anserine and carnosine were not found in rice, wheat, soybean, and cow milk, and these constituents were recognized as not being a food nutrient and not affected by the intestinal bacteria. The striking feature in the animal kingdom was found in tuna (Thunnus thynnus (LINNE) in which a large quantity (89.43 μmol/g wet tissue) of anserine was detected but no carnosine. In the eel (Entosphenus japonicus (MARTENS)) 3.617μmol of carnosine was detected but not anserine. Some animal tissues contained one or both of these dipeptides. The human iliopsoas usually contained carnosine but anserine was detected in 3 of 58 cases examined, including a case that contained 8.984 μmol/g protein of anserine and 6.88 μmol/g protein of carnosine. In the case in which anserine was detected, an abnormally high (3.45 μmol/g protein) of free histidine was detected. β-Alanine was not detected in human hepatoma.
