3-Mercaptopyruvic acid is an intermediate in
cysteine metabolism Cysteine metabolism refers to the biological pathways that consume or create cysteine. The pathways of different amino acids and other metabolites interweave and overlap to creating complex systems.
Human cysteine metabolism
In human cysteine metab ...
. It has been studied as a potential treatment for
cyanide poisoning
Cyanide poisoning is poisoning that results from exposure to any of a number of forms of cyanide. Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, and vomiting. This phase may then be followed by seizures, slo ...
, but its
half-life Half-life is a mathematical and scientific description of exponential or gradual decay.
Half-life, half life or halflife may also refer to:
Film
* Half-Life (film), ''Half-Life'' (film), a 2008 independent film by Jennifer Phang
* ''Half Life: ...
is too short for it to be clinically effective. Instead,
prodrug
A prodrug is a pharmacologically inactive medication or compound that, after intake, is metabolized (i.e., converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug. Instead of administering a drug directly, a corresponding prodrug can be ...
s, such as
sulfanegen
Sulfanegen is an experimental antidote for cyanide poisoning. It is being studied as a prodrug for 3-mercaptopyruvic acid (3-MP). 3-MP has been studied as a potential treatment for cyanide poisoning, but the half-life is too short for it to be ...
, are being evaluated to compensate for the short half-life of 3-mercaptopyruvic acid.
See also
*
3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase
In enzymology, a 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase () is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reactions of 3-mercaptopyruvate. This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically the sulfurtransferases. This enzyme participates ...
References
Carboxylic acids
Thiols
Alpha-keto acids
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