Kynurenic acid

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Kynurenic acid
Chemical structure of kynurenic acid
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
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Kynurenic acid is a product of the normal metabolism of aminoacid 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, and 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[1].


[edit] Note

  1.  Liebig, J., Uber Kynurensäure, Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem., 86: 125-126, 1853.