Sodium α-ketoisocaproate  (Synonyms: Sodium 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate; 2-Ketoisocaproic acid sodium salt)

Sodium α-ketoisocaproate (Sodium 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate) is an insulin secretagogue. Sodium α-ketoisocaproate undergoes transamination catalyzed by BCAT and BCATm to produce α-ketoglutarate and leucine; it also binds to the SUR1 site to inhibit K_ATP channel activity, but does not directly affect the Kir6.2 subunit. Sodium α-ketoisocaproate regulates Ca²⁺ influx. Sodium α-ketoisocaproate exerts insulinotropic activity in pancreatic islets and intact mouse pancreata with sufficient BCATm expression. Sodium α-ketoisocaproate can be used in research related to type 2 diabetes^[1][2][3].

α-ketoisocaproate (15 mM; 45 min) sodium potently stimulates insulin secretion from isolated islets, among which BTBR and (B6 × BTBR) F₁ islets exhibit a hyper-responsive phenotype compared with B6 islets^[1].
α-ketoisocaproate (15 mM) sodium has no inhibitory effect on the activity of KIR6.2ΔC26 channels in inside-out patches of transfected COS-7 cells^[2].
Sodium α-ketoisocaproate binds to native and recombinant SUR1, as well as recombinant SUR2B, with a K_d value range of 46.9~57.2 mM, indicating its low affinity for sulfonylurea receptor sites^[2].
Sodium α-ketoisocaproate inhibits the K_ATP channel current in inside-out membrane patches of mouse pancreatic β cells, with an IC₅₀ of 18.9 mM, and exerts only extremely weak inhibition at the estimated physiological cytoplasmic concentration^[2].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

152.12

C₆H₉NaO₃

4502-00-5

Solid

White to yellow

[Na].O=C(O)C(=O)CC(C)C

Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.

4°C, sealed storage, away from moisture

*In solvent : -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (sealed storage, away from moisture)

* Please refer to the solubility information to select the appropriate solvent. Once prepared, please aliquot and store the solution to prevent product inactivation from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Storage method and period of stock solution: -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (sealed storage, away from moisture). When stored at -80°C, please use it within 6 months. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 month.

* Note: If you choose water as the stock solution, please dilute it to the working solution, then filter and sterilize it with a 0.22 μm filter before use.

• [1]. Rabaglia ME, et al. Alpha-Ketoisocaproate-induced hypersecretion of insulin by islets from diabetes-susceptible mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005;289(2):E218-E224.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Heissig H, et al. Mechanism of the insulin-releasing action of alpha-ketoisocaproate and related alpha-keto acid anions. Mol Pharmacol. 2005 Oct;68(4):1097-105.

  [3]. Zhou Y, et al. Transamination is required for {alpha}-ketoisocaproate but not leucine to stimulate insulin secretion. J Biol Chem. 2010 Oct 29;285(44):33718-26.