What is "anserine"

Anserine \An"ser*ine\, a. [L. anserinus, fr. anser a goose.]

1. Pertaining to, or resembling, a goose, or the skin of a goose.

2. (Zo["o]l.) Pertaining to the Anseres.

a. 1 Being from the subfamily Anserinae of the family Anatidae. 2 Of, concerning, or resembling a goose or geese; gooselike. 3 silly, foolish, stupid.

1. adj. of or resembling a goose

2. having or revealing stupidity; "ridiculous anserine behavior"; "a dopey answer"; "a dopey kid"; "some fool idea about rewriting authors' books" [syn: dopy, dopey, foolish, goosey, goosy, gooselike]

Anserine (β-alanyl-N-methylhistidine) is a dipeptide containing β-alanine and histidine, which can be found in the skeletal muscle and brain of mammals and birds.

The pKa of the imidazole ring of histidine, when contained in anserine, is 7.04, making it an effective buffer at physiologic pH.