2-Ketoglutaric acid is a ketone derivative of glutaric acid, it is one of the two ketone derivatives of glutaric acid, with the other being β-ketoglutaric acid.

Physiological effect

2-Ketoglutaric acid is an important biological compound that acts as a nitrogen transporter in metabolic pathways.

The amino groups of amino acids are attached to it (by transamination) and carried to the liver where the urea cycle takes place.It is also transaminated, along with glutamine, to form the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate.

2-Ketoglutaric acid is also used as a precursor of the plant hormone indoleacetic acid.

Applications

2-Ketoglutaric acid is used for kidney disease, intestinal and stomach disorders, and many other conditions but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

Healthcare providers sometimes give 2-Ketoglutaric acid intravenously for preventing injury to the heart caused by alpha-ketoglutarate or other ingredients in this product.

Production

2-Ketoglutaric acid can be produced by:

Oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate by isocitrate dehydrogenase;

Oxidative deamination of glutamate by glutamate dehydrogenase;

From galacturonic acid by the organism Agrobacterium tumefaciens.