Chemical Properties
Colourless or nearly colourless solid
Uses
L-Homocysteine is the hydrolysis product of adenosine (A280400), a purine nucleoside. Metabolic fate of L-Homocysteine is converted back to L-Methionine( M260440) via tetrahydrofolate.
Uses
L-homocysteine has been used as a supplement in cell culture media.
Definition
ChEBI: Homocysteine with L configuration.
General Description
L-homocysteine is used to diagnose homocystinuria.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Elevated homocysteine levels in plasma and tissue are associated with brain atrophy in Alzheimer′s disease as well as in healthy eldery subjects. Increased homocysteine is due to deficiencies in vitamin B status, specifically folate, B6 and B12 vitamins, which act as cofactors for enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism.
Purification Methods
Crystallise L-homocysteine from aqueous EtOH. All operations should be carried out under N2 as the thiol readily oxidizes in air. The acid (3g) is dissolved in freshly boiled H2O (
