Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Han Q
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2577175 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Han Qian Q Beerntsen Brenda T BT Li Jianyong J
Journal of insect physiology 20060917 3
Oxidation of tryptophan to kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) is the major catabolic pathway in mosquitoes. However, 3-HK is oxidized easily under physiological conditions, resulting in the production of reactive radical species. To overcome this problem, mosquitoes have developed an efficient mechanism to prevent 3-HK from accumulating by converting this chemically reactive compound to the chemically stable xanthurenic acid. Interestingly, 3-HK is a precursor for the production of compou ...[more]