MOLECULE

(S)-beta-Aminoisobutyric acid

(S)-beta-Aminoisobutyric acid, also known as (S)-3-aminoisobutyrate or (S)-3-amino-isobutanoic acid, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as beta amino acids and derivatives. These are amino acids having a (-NH2) group attached to the beta carbon atom (S)-beta-Aminoisobutyric acid is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble (in water), and relatively neutral (S)-beta-Aminoisobutyric acid exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. beta-Aminoisobutyric acid is a non-protein amino acid originating from the catabolism of thymine and valine (S)-beta-aminoisobutyric acid and oxoglutaric acid can be converted into (S)-methylmalonic acid semialdehyde and L-glutamic acid through its interaction with the enzyme 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase, mitochondrial. beta-Aminoisobutyric acid occurs in two isomeric forms and both enantiomers of beta-aminoisobutyric acid can be detected in human urine and plasma. In humans, (S)-beta-aminoisobutyric acid is involved in the metabolic disorder called the 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyryl-coa dehydrogenase deficiency pathway. Outside of the human body, (S)-beta-Aminoisobutyric acid has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as boysenberries, swedes, millets, mugworts, and jackfruits. This could make (S)-beta-aminoisobutyric acid a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. In plasma, the S-enantiomer is the predominant type due to active renal reabsorption. In addition, transient high levels of beta-aminoisobutyric acid have been observed under a variety of pathological conditions such as lead poisoning, starvation, in total body irradiation, and in a number of malignancies. It has been suggested that altered homeostasis of beta-alanine underlies some of the clinical abnormalities encountered in patients with a dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency. DPD constitutes the first step of the pyrimidine degradation pathway, in which the pyrimidine bases uracil and thymine are catabolized to beta-alanine and the R-enantiomer of beta-aminoisobutyric acid respectively. Hence, there might be less cross-over between the valine and thymine pathway, allowing the conversion of S-methylmalonic acid semialdehyde into (S)-beta-Aminoisobutyric acid and the subsequent accumulation of (S)-beta-Aminoisobutyric acid in plasma (PMID: 14705962, 14292857, 14453202). The S-enantiomer of beta-aminoisobutyric acid is predominantly derived from the catabolism of valine. (S)-beta-Aminoisobutyric acid is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.