Biologically Active Substance
quinolinic acid
Subclass of:
Quinolinic Acids
Definitions related to quinolinic acid:
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A metabolite of tryptophan with a possible role in neurodegenerative disorders. Elevated CSF levels of quinolinic acid are correlated with the severity of neuropsychological deficits in patients who have AIDS.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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An intermediate product of the kynurenine pathway, which is responsible for the conversion of the amino acid tryptophan into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, with potential neurotoxic activity. If produced in excess, quinolinic acid can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and function as an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist, which may lead to both neuronal damage and neurodegenerative brain disease. The NMDA receptor, a heterotetrameric, ligand-gated and voltage-dependent glutamate receptor, is critical for synaptic plasticity, learning and memory.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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