MOLECULE

Threonic acid

Threonic acid also known as threonate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as sugar acids. Sugar acids are compounds containing a saccharide unit which bears a carboxylic acid group. Threonic acid is a weak acid (based on its pKa). Threonic acid is derived from threose. The L-isomer is a metabolite of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Threonic acid is probably derived from glycated proteins or from the degradation of ascorbic acid. It is a normal component is aqueous humour and blood (PMID: 10420182). One recent study suggested that because L-threonate inhibits DKK1 expression in vitro, it may have potential in the treatment of androgenic alopecia (PMID: 21034532). Threonic acid is a substrate of L-threonate 3-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.129) in the ascorbate and aldarate metabolism pathway (KEGG). Threonate has also been found to be a microbial metabolite (PMID: 20615997).