An acid containing a ketone group (–CO–) in addition to the acid group(s); α-k. refers to a 2-oxo acid ( e.g., pyruvic acid); β-k. refers to a 3-oxo acid ( e.g., acetoacetic acid), etc. SYN: oxo acid.
- α-k. dehydrogenase one of several distinct multienzyme complexes that catalyzes the formation of an acyl-CoA derivative, CO2, and NADH from an α-k., NAD+, and coenzyme A; maple syrup urine disease results from several different inherited defects in the mitochondrial branched chain α-k. dehydrogenase complex.
* * *
keto acid n a compound that is both a ketone and an acid
* * *
ke·to ac·id (keґto) a carboxylic acid containing a carbonyl group, such as α-ketoglutaric acid.Medical dictionary. 2011.