Showing chemical card for homogentisate (CFc000337833)
Record Information
Version
1.0
Creation Date
Update Date
2022-09-14 05:31:54 UTC
Chemfont ID
CFc000337833
Molecule Identification
Common Name
homogentisate
Definition
2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid, also known as homogentisic acid or homogentisate, is a member of the class of compounds known as 2(hydroxyphenyl)acetic acids. 2(hydroxyphenyl)acetic acids are phenylacetic acids that carry a hydroxyl group at the 2-position. 2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid is slightly soluble (in water) and a weakly acidic compound (based on its pKa). 2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid can be found in a number of food items such as gooseberry, angelica, chinese broccoli, and cucumber, which makes 2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. 2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid can be found primarily in blood, feces, and urine, as well as in human cartilage, connective tissue and kidney tissues. In humans, 2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid is involved in few metabolic pathways, which include disulfiram action pathway, phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism. 2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid is also involved in several metabolic disorders, some of which include dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency, tyrosinemia type 3 (TYRO3), alkaptonuria, and tyrosinemia type 2 (or richner-hanhart syndrome). Moreover, 2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid is found to be associated with alkaptonuria. 2-(3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid is a non-carcinogenic (not listed by IARC) potentially toxic compound. Apart from treatment of the complications (such as pain relief using NSAIDs and joint replacement for the cartilage damage), vitamin C has been used to reduce the ochronosis and lowering of the homogentisic acid levels may be attempted with a low-protein diet. Recently the drug nitisinone has been found to suppress homogentisic acid production. Nitrisinone inhibits the enzyme, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, responsible for converting tyrosine to homogentisic acid, thereby blocking the production and accumulation of homogentisic acid. Nitisinone treatment has been shown to cause a 95% reduction in plasma and urinary homogentisic acid (T3DB).
Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 2(hydroxyphenyl)acetic acids. These are phenylacetic acids that carry a hydroxyl group at the 2-position.
