1-o-palmitylglucuronic acid

Description

1-O-palmitoylglucuronic acid is a **lipid-conjugated glucuronic acid** with a palmitic acid molecule attached to its 1-hydroxyl group.

Here's why it's important in research:

* **Lipid-glucuronic acid conjugation:** This molecule is a product of the **glucuronidation process**, which is a major detoxification pathway in the liver. This process attaches glucuronic acid to various compounds, including steroids, bilirubin, and drugs, making them more water-soluble and easier to excrete.
* **Research on glucuronidation:** 1-O-palmitoylglucuronic acid serves as a model compound for studying the **kinetics and mechanism** of glucuronidation reactions. Researchers use it to investigate how different factors like enzyme activity, substrate structure, and pH influence the conjugation process.
* **Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics:** Understanding the glucuronidation pathway is crucial for drug development. 1-O-palmitoylglucuronic acid can help researchers predict how drugs will be metabolized in the body and how long they will remain active.
* **Lipid metabolism:** The presence of a palmitic acid chain in 1-O-palmitoylglucuronic acid connects it to lipid metabolism. It can be used to study the interaction between glucuronidation and lipid metabolism, which is relevant to conditions like fatty liver disease.

Overall, 1-O-palmitoylglucuronic acid is a valuable tool in various research fields, providing insights into detoxification pathways, drug metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Its simple structure allows for easier analysis and manipulation compared to complex biological molecules.

1-O-palmitylglucuronic acid: used to modify liposomes [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]