lipoic acid

Pronunciation: li-pō′ik as′id

Definition: A bacterial growth factor present in yeast and liver extracts; may be useful in the treatment of mushroom poisoning. Functions as the amide (lipoamide) cofactor in the disulfide (—S—S—) form in the transfer of “active aldehyde” (acetyl), the two-carbon fragment resulting from decarboxylation of pyruvate from α-hydroxyethylthiamin pyrophosphate to acetyl-CoA, itself being reduced to the dithiol form (dihydrolipoic acid) in the process. Lipoic acid is also an essential component of other α-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes.

Synonym(s): acetate replacement factor, ovoprotogen, protogen, protogen A, pyruvate oxidation factor, thioctic acid

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