KYNURENATE Meaning and
Definition
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Kynurenate is a chemical compound that belongs to the class of kynurenine metabolites. It is derived from the metabolism of the amino acid tryptophan, specifically through the kynurenine pathway. Kynurenate plays a role in various biological processes and has been studied for its potential implications in different physiological and pathological conditions.
In terms of its neuroactive properties, kynurenate acts as a non-selective antagonist of the ionotropic glutamate receptors, particularly the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. By binding to these receptors, kynurenate inhibits their activation by the neurotransmitter glutamate, thereby modulating the excitatory signals in the central nervous system. This property has been of interest in research related to neurodegenerative disorders and psychiatric diseases, as dysregulation of glutamate signaling has been implicated in these conditions.
Furthermore, kynurenate is also known to have immunomodulatory effects. It has been shown to influence the activation and proliferation of immune cells, such as T cells and dendritic cells. This suggests that kynurenate may be involved in regulating immune responses and inflammation.
Overall, kynurenate is a metabolite that is synthesized during the breakdown of tryptophan and has diverse effects on neurotransmission and immune function. Further research is needed to fully understand its roles and potential therapeutic applications in various physiological and pathological contexts.
Common Misspellings for KYNURENATE
- jynurenate
- mynurenate
- lynurenate
- oynurenate
- iynurenate
- ktnurenate
- kgnurenate
- khnurenate
- kunurenate
- k7nurenate
- k6nurenate
- kyburenate
- kymurenate
- kyjurenate
- kyhurenate
- kynyrenate
- kynhrenate
- kynjrenate
- kynirenate
- kyn8renate
Etymology of KYNURENATE
The word "kynurenate" is derived from "kynurenine", which in turn comes from the amino acid "tryptophan".
The term "kynurenine" was formed from the Latin word "quina" meaning "dog" and "urina" meaning "urine". This stems from the fact that kynurenine was first isolated from dog urine by German chemist Heinrich Anton Rudolf Strecker in 1863.
The suffix "-ate" refers to its chemical structure, indicating that kynurenate is the salt or ester form of kynurenic acid, which is a metabolite derived from the breakdown of tryptophan. Therefore, "kynurenate" literally means a derivative of kynurenic acid.
