MOLECULE

Ketoleucine

Ketoleucine, also known as 2-oxoisocaproate or 2-oxoleucine, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as short-chain keto acids and derivatives. These are keto acids with an alkyl chain the contains less than 6 carbon atoms. Ketoleucine is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Ketoleucine exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. Outside of the human body, Ketoleucine has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as oriental wheats, nances, corianders, quinces, and soursops. This could make ketoleucine a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Ketoleucine is a potentially toxic compound. Ketoleucine, with regard to humans, has been found to be associated with several diseases such as eosinophilic esophagitis, periodontal probing depth, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout; ketoleucine has also been linked to the inborn metabolic disorder maple syrup urine disease. Ketoleucine is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.