glutaric

Glutaric is an adjective relating to glutaric acid and its derivatives. In chemistry, it is used to describe compounds derived from or containing glutaric acid, such as esters, anhydrides, and related polymers.

Glutaric acid, also known as pentanedioic acid, is a five-carbon dicarboxylic acid with the formula HOOC-(CH2)3-COOH. It occurs in small amounts in nature and serves as an intermediate in the metabolic breakdown of certain amino acids, including lysine, hydroxylysine, and tryptophan. In human metabolism, glutaric acid participates in pathways that ultimately connect to energy production. Its derivatives, including glutaric anhydride and related esters, are used in various chemical syntheses and materials applications.

Medical relevance arises with glutaric acidemia type I (GA-1), a rare inherited metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. This deficiency leads to accumulation of glutaric acid and 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, particularly affecting the brain and nervous system. GA-1 commonly presents in infancy with macrocephaly and acute encephalopathic crises that can result in motor disability if not treated. Diagnosis is typically by biochemical testing of organic acids in urine and confirmatory genetic testing; many countries include GA-1 in newborn screening panels. Treatment focuses on preventing catabolic stress, restricting dietary lysine, and supplementing with carnitine to facilitate detoxification, alongside supportive neurological care.

In summary, glutaric describes related compounds of glutaric acid, a metabolic intermediate with significance in chemistry and medicine, notably in the context of glutaric acidemia type I.