Kynurenic acid

Kynurenic acid
Names
	Preferred IUPAC name 4-Hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid
	Other names Kinurenic acid, kynuronic acid, quinurenic acid, transtorine
Identifiers
CAS Number	492-27-3 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:18344 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL299155 ;
ChemSpider	3712 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.007.047
IUPHAR/BPS	2918;
KEGG	C01717 ;
PubChem CID	3845;
UNII	H030S2S85J ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID8075417 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C10H7NO3/c12-9-5-8(10(13)14)11-7-4-2-1-3-6(7)9/h1-5H,(H,11,12)(H,13,14) Key: HCZHHEIFKROPDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N ; InChI=1/C10H7NO3/c12-9-5-8(10(13)14)11-7-4-2-1-3-6(7)9/h1-5H,(H,11,12)(H,13,14) Key: HCZHHEIFKROPDY-UHFFFAOYAN;
	SMILES O=C\2c1c(cccc1)NC(=C/2)/C(=O)O;
Properties
Chemical formula	C10H7NO3
Molar mass	189.168 g/mol
Melting point	282.5 °C (540.5 °F; 555.6 K)
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Kynurenic acid (KYNA or KYN) is a product of the normal metabolism of amino acid L-tryptophan. 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 neurophysiological and neuropathological processes. As a result, kynurenic acid has been considered for use in therapy in certain neurobiological disorders. Conversely, increased levels of kynurenic acid have also been linked to certain pathological conditions.

Kynurenic acid was discovered in 1853 by the German chemist Justus von Liebig in dog urine, which it was apparently named after.^[1]

It is formed from L-kynurenine in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme kynurenine—oxoglutarate transaminase.^[2]

^ Liebig, J., Uber Kynurensäure, Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem., 86: 125-126, 1853.
^ Han, Qian; Cai, Tao; Tagle, Danilo A.; Robinson, Howard; Li, Jianyong (August 2008). "Substrate specificity and structure of human aminoadipate aminotransferase/kynurenine aminotransferase II". Bioscience Reports. 28 (4): 205–215. doi:10.1042/BSR20080085. ISSN 0144-8463. PMC 2559858. PMID 18620547.

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

[2] Han, Qian; Cai, Tao; Tagle, Danilo A.; Robinson, Howard; Li, Jianyong (August 2008). "Substrate specificity and structure of human aminoadipate aminotransferase/kynurenine aminotransferase II". Bioscience Reports. 28 (4): 205–215. doi:10.1042/BSR20080085. ISSN 0144-8463. PMC 2559858. PMID 18620547.

[1]

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