Ketopantoic acid is the organic compound with the formula HOCH2(CH3)2CC(O)CO2H. At physiological conditions, ketopantoic acid exists as its conjugate base, ketopantoate (HOCH2(CH3)2CC(O)CO2−).
Biosynthetic context Its biosynthesis proceeds from ketoisovalerate by hydroxymethylation: (CH3)2CHC(O)CO2− + CH2O → HOCH2(CH3)2CC(O)CO2−
This conversion is catalyzed by ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase, which gives ketopantoate.
Ketopantoate is substrate for 2-dehydropantoate 2-reductase, which produces (R)-pantoic acid, a precursor to pantothenic acid, a common prosthetic group.
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