Mevalonic acid

Mevalonic acid
Names
	IUPAC name (3R)-3,5-Dihydroxy-3-methylpentanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	150-97-0 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:17710 ;
ChemSpider	388367 ;
KEGG	C00418 ;
PubChem CID	439230;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID5040546 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C6H12O4/c1-6(10,2-3-7)4-5(8)9/h7,10H,2-4H2,1H3,(H,8,9)/t6-/m1/s1 Key: KJTLQQUUPVSXIM-ZCFIWIBFSA-N ; InChI=1/C6H12O4/c1-6(10,2-3-7)4-5(8)9/h7,10H,2-4H2,1H3,(H,8,9)/t6-/m1/s1 Key: KJTLQQUUPVSXIM-ZCFIWIBFBE;
	SMILES C[C@@](O)(CCO)CC(=O)O;
Properties
Chemical formula	C6H12O4
Molar mass	148.158 g·mol−1
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Mevalonic acid (MVA) is a key organic compound in biochemistry. The name is a contraction of dihydroxymethylvalerolactone. The carboxylate anion of mevalonic acid, which is the predominant form in biological environments is known as mevalonate, and is of major pharmaceutical importance. Drugs such as the statins (which lower levels of cholesterol) stop the production of mevalonate by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase.^[1]

Chemistry

Mevalonic acid is very soluble in water and polar organic solvents. It exists in equilibrium with its lactone form, called mevalonolactone, that is formed by internal condensation of its terminal alcohol and carboxylic acid functional groups.

Biology

Mevalonic acid is a precursor in the biosynthetic pathway known as the mevalonate pathway that produces terpenes and steroids. Mevalonic acid is the primary precursor of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), that is in turn the basis for all terpenoids. Mevalonic acid is chiral and the (3R)-enantiomer is the only one that is biologically active.

References

^ Endo, A. (1992). "The discovery and development of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors". Journal of Lipid Research. 33 (11): 1569–1582. PMID 1464741.

[1] Endo, A. (1992). "The discovery and development of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors". Journal of Lipid Research. 33 (11): 1569–1582. PMID 1464741.

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