| Description | 4-Guanidinobutanoic acid, also known as gamma-guanidinobutyrate or 4-(carbamimidamido)butanoate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as gamma amino acids and derivatives. These are amino acids having a (-NH2) group attached to the gamma carbon atom. 4-Guanidinobutanoic acid is a normal metabolite present in low concentrations. 4-Guanidinobutanoic acid exists in all eukaryotes, ranging from yeast to humans. Outside of the human body, 4-Guanidinobutanoic acid has been detected, but not quantified in a few different foods, such as apples, french plantains, and loquats. This could make 4-guanidinobutanoic acid a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Patients with hyperargininemia have an arginase deficiency which leads to blockade of the urea cycle in the last step with several clinical symptoms. Owing to the arginase deficiency this patients accumulate arginine which leads eventually to epileptogenic guanidino compounds (PMID 7752905 ). |
|---|
