Kynurenic acid
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| Kynurenic acid | |
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| Systematic name | 4-oxo-1H-quinoline-2-carboxylic acid |
| Other names | Kinurenic acid, kynuronic acid, quinurenic acid, transtorine |
| Chemical formula | C10H7N1O3 |
| Molecular mass | 189.168 g/mol |
| Density | x.xxx g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 282.5°C |
| Boiling point | xx.x °C |
| CAS number | 492-27-3 |
| SMILES | C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C(=O)C=C(N2)C(=O)O |
| Disclaimer and references | |
Kynurenic acid is a product of the normal metabolism of amino acid L-tryptophan. It is formed from L-kynurenine, a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme kynurenine-oxoglutarate transaminase. It has been shown that kynurenic acid possesses neuroactive activity. It acts as an antiexcitotoxic and anticonvulsant, most likely through acting as an antagonist at excitatory amino acid receptors. Because of this activity, it may influence important neurophysiologic and neuropathologic processes. As a result, kynurenic acid has been considered for use in therapy in certain neurobiological disorders.
High levels of kynurenic acid have been identified in human urine in certain metabolic disorders, such as marked pyridoxine deficiency and deficiency/absence of kynureninase.
Kynurenic acid was discovered in 1853 by the German chemist Justus von Liebig in dog urine.
[edit] Note
- ↑ Liebig, J., Uber Kynurensäure, Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem., 86: 125-126, 1853.
