3-Mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) is an

organosulfur compound Organosulfur compounds are organic compounds that contain sulfur. They are often associated with foul odors, but many of the sweetest compounds known are organosulfur derivatives, e.g., saccharin. Nature abounds with organosulfur compounds—sulf ...

with the formula HSCH₂CH₂CO₂H. It is a

bifunctional In organic chemistry, when a single organic molecule has two different functional groups, it is called a bifunctional molecule . A bifunctional molecule has the properties of two different types of functional groups, such as an alcohol (), amide ( ...

molecule, containing both carboxylic acid and thiol groups. It is a colorless oil. It is derived from the addition of hydrogen sulfide to

acrylic acid Acrylic acid (IUPAC: propenoic acid) is an organic compound with the formula CH2=CHCOOH. It is the simplest unsaturated carboxylic acid, consisting of a vinyl group connected directly to a carboxylic acid terminus. This colorless liquid has a ch ...

Reactions and uses

It is competitive inhibitor of glutamate decarboxylase, and therefore acts as a

convulsant A convulsant is a drug which induces convulsions and/or epileptic seizures, the opposite of an anticonvulsant. These drugs generally act as stimulants at low doses, but are not used for this purpose due to the risk of convulsions and consequent exci ...

. It has higher potency and faster onset of action compared to

allylglycine Allylglycine is a glycine derivative. It is an inhibitor of glutamate decarboxylase. Inhibition of glutamate decarboxylase blocks GABA biosynthesis, leading to lower levels of the neurotransmitter. Allylglycine is known to induce seizures in an ...

. It is used to prepare hydrophilic gold nanoparticles, exploiting the affinity of gold for sulfur ligands.

References

Convulsants Glutamate decarboxylase inhibitors Thiols Propionic acids {{Organic-compound-stub

Reactions and uses

See also

References