Alpha-Aminobutyric acid
Encyclopedia
α-Aminobutyric acid is an isomer
of the amino acid
aminobutyric acid
with chemical formula C4H9NO2. There is also gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA) and beta-aminobutyric acid.
It is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of ophthalmic acid
or ophthalmate, which was first isolated from calf lens.
Isomer
In chemistry, isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. Isomers do not necessarily share similar properties, unless they also have the same functional groups. There are many different classes of isomers, like stereoisomers, enantiomers, geometrical...
of the amino acid
Amino acid
Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain that varies between different amino acids. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen...
aminobutyric acid
Aminobutyric acid
Aminobutyric acid may refer to any of three isomeric chemical compounds:* α-Aminobutyric acid* β-Aminobutyric acid* γ-Aminobutyric acid...
with chemical formula C4H9NO2. There is also gamma-aminobutyric acid
Gamma-aminobutyric acid
γ-Aminobutyric acid is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. It plays a role in regulating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system...
(GABA) and beta-aminobutyric acid.
It is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of ophthalmic acid
Ophthalmic acid
Ophthalmic acid, also known as ophthalmate , is a tripeptide analogue of glutathione in which the cysteine group is replaced by L-2-aminobutyrate...
or ophthalmate, which was first isolated from calf lens.