A 4-substituted analog of Glutamic acid. This compound is a good enzyme substrate for GOT (glutamic oxalacetic aminotransferase).
ChEBI: An oxo dicarboxylic acid comprising glutaric acid having oxo- and hydroxy substituents at the 2- and 4-positions respectively.
DL-4-Hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid (DL-KHG) is an enzyme substrate for GOT (glutamic oxalacetic aminotransferase) and 2-Keto-4-hydroxyglutarate aldolase, which catalyzes the reversible cleavage of 2-keto-4-hydroxyglutarate yielding pyruvate plus glyoxylate; DL-KHG has been used in mass spectrometry for the rapid analysis of negatively charged water-soluble cellular metabolites.