Uses
Isovaleryl-L-carnitine may be used as an analytical reference standard for the quantification of the analyte in biological samples using chromatography-based techniques.
Definition
ChEBI: O-isovalerylcarnitine is a C5-acylcarnitine having isovaleryl as the acyl substituent. It has a role as a human metabolite. It is functionally related to an isovaleric acid.
General Description
Isovaleryl-L-carnitine belongs to the acylcarnitines class of compounds. Acyl-L-carnitines are mostly produced from L-carnitine, which plays an important role in fatty acid metabolic pathways. The functions and roles of acyl-L-carnitines in various tissues like brain, heart, and muscle continue to attract much interest, since a number of diseases caused by defects of mitochondrial transport are characterized by specific metabolic dysfunctions and depend on the physiological role of the affected carrier in intermediary metabolism.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Isovalerylcarnitine is the phenotypic abnormality in iso-valeric acidemia resulting from an accumulation of isovaleric acid, which is toxic to the central nervous system. Isovaleric acidemia is an autosomal recessive inborn error of leucine metabolism caused by a deficiency of the mitochondrial enzyme isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase resulting in the accumulation of derivatives of isovaleryl-CoA. It was the first organic acidemia recognized in humans and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment with a protein restricted diet and supplementation with carnitine and glycine are effective in promoting normal development in severely affected individuals. An alternative pathway through glycine-N-acylase allows detoxification by producing isovaleryl-glycine, which is excreted. Thus, isovalerylcarnitine and isovalerylglycine are the hallmarks of this disorder in plasma and urine, respectively, and are elevated regardless of a patient′s metabolic condition.
