Mimosine or leucenol is a toxic non-protein amino acid chemically similar to tyrosine.

[citation needed] Mimosine arrests dividing cells in the late G1 phase by inhibiting DNA replication initiation.

Although toxicosis has occurred in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Africa and Florida, it has not been recorded in any other tropical and subtropical regions.

[7] Besides, Moe Thida Htun, from Myanmar also found another new sub-species of Bacillus aureus that can degrade mimosine.

[citation needed] Some rhizobia are known to produce rhizomimosinase, which consumes pyridoxal 5′-phosphate to degrade mimosine into 3,4 dihydroxypyridine, pyruvate, and ammonium.