Biologically Active Substance
kynurenine
Subclass of:
Amino Acids
Definitions related to kynurenine:
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A ketone and an amino acid derivative that is synthesized by either tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO)- or indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-mediated oxidation of tryptophan with diverse biological functions, including vasodilatory, immunoregulatory and neuromodulatory activities. Kynurenine is a precursor for niacin. Additionally, kynurenine can be further metabolized into anthranilic acid, kynurenic acid, and 3-hydroxykynurenine; aberrant production of kynurenine is associated with neurological disease-related cognitive deficits and depressive symptoms. Overexpressed in certain cancer cell types, kynurenine could potentially be used as a biomarker to assess cancer risk.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A metabolite of the essential amino acid tryptophan metabolized via the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Aromatic aminoacid formed as an intermediate in the metabolism of tryptophan.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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