urocanic acid

English

Etymology

Latin urina (“urine”) and canis (“dog”), because first isolated in 1874 from dog urine.

Noun

urocanic acid (uncountable)

1. (organic chemistry) An intermediate in the catabolism of L-histidine, transformed in the liver by urocanate hydratase (or urocanase) into 4-imidazolone-5-propionic acid and subsequently to glutamic acid.

Related terms

• urocanate