ALCAPTON Meaning and
Definition
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Alcapton is a noun that refers to a natural substance found in the human body called homogentisic acid. It is a metabolic compound that is produced as a result of the breakdown of certain amino acids, specifically phenylalanine and tyrosine. Alcapton is also known as homogentisic acid or 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and has a chemical structure characterized by its phenolic ring.
In certain individuals, a rare genetic disorder called alkaptonuria causes a deficiency in the enzyme responsible for breaking down homogentisic acid. As a consequence, alcapton accumulates in the body and gives urine a dark brownish-black color upon exposure to air. This unique symptom, known as "black urine," is one of the hallmark signs of alkaptonuria.
The accumulation of alcapton can have detrimental effects on several body systems. It can cause the formation of a dark pigment that can be deposited in various tissues, including the joints, cartilage, connective tissues, and heart valves. Over time, this deposition can lead to the development of arthritis (often affecting the spine and large joints), kidney stones, and heart complications.
The term alcapton is derived from the Greek words "albus" meaning white and "caput" meaning head, referring to the change in color of urine upon exposure to air. It was first described in the late 18th century by Sir Archibald Garrod, a British physician and pioneer in the field of inborn errors of metabolism. His contributions helped establish the field of biochemical genetics.
Common Misspellings for ALCAPTON
- zlcapton
- slcapton
- wlcapton
- qlcapton
- akcapton
- apcapton
- aocapton
- alxapton
- alvapton
- alfapton
- aldapton
- alczpton
- alcspton
- alcwpton
- alcqpton
- alcaoton
- alcalton
- alca-ton
- alca0ton
Etymology of ALCAPTON
The word "alcapton" was derived from the combination of the Greek prefix "al-" meaning "not" or "without", and "kapto" which means "to smoke" or "to vaporize". The term was first coined by the English physician Sir Archibald Edward Garrod in the late 19th century to describe a condition characterized by the presence of a substance called "alkapton" (later corrected spelling to "homogentisic acid") in the urine. This acid darkens upon exposure to air, leading to the name "alkaptonuria" for the associated metabolic disorder. Over time, "alkapton" was eventually modified to "alcapton" due to the phonetic influence of the word "caput" meaning "head" in Latin.
Similar spelling words for ALCAPTON
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