Glucuronic acid
From Freepedia
Image:Glucuronic acid.png Glucuronic acid (from Greek γλυκερός - "sweet") is a carboxylic acid that has the structure of a glucose molecule which has had its sixth carbon atom (of six total) oxidized. Its formula is C6H10O7.
The salts of glucuronic acid are known as glucuronates; the anion C6H9O7− is the glucuronate ion.
Glucuronic acid is highly soluble in water. Animals link glucuronic acid to poisonous substances to allow for subsequent elimination, and to hormones to allow for easier transport. Pharmacist also commonly link drugs to glucuronic acid to allow for easier delivery. These linkages involve O-glycosidic bonds. The process is known as glucuronidation, and the resulting substances are known as glucuronides (or glucuronosides).
Image:Glucuronic.png Glucuronidation uses UDP-glucuronic acid (glucuronic acid linked via a glycosidic bond to uridine diphosphate) as an intermediate. UDP-glucuronic acid is formed in the liver of all animals. The linking of toxins to glucuronic acid is catalyzed by the enzyme UDP-glucuronyltransferase which has been found in all major body organs: heart, kidneys, adrenal gland, spleen, thymus etc.
UDP-glucuronic acid serves as the source of glucuronic acid for the biosynthesis of polysaccharides. It is also an intermediate in the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid (except in primates and guinea pigs).
Glucuronidases are those enzymes that hydrolyze the glycosidic bond between glucuronic acid and some other compound.
