A tryptophan metabolite, is a precursor of kynurenic acid, which is an antagonist of N-methyl-aspartate receptor. An amino acid produced in the body from tryptophan.
vasodilator, immunomodulator
ChEBI: A ketone that is alanine in which one of the methyl hydrogens is substituted by a 2-aminobenzoyl group.
Crystallise it from H2O or aqueous AcOH. The picrate has m 188.5-189o(dec) after crystallisation from H2O. (±)-Kynurenine has m 218o. [Greenstein & Winitz The Chemistry of the Amino Acids J. Wiley, Vol 3 p2726 1961, Beilstein 14 III 1657, 14 IV 2562.]
