Mevalonic acid

3,5- dihydroxy-3- methylpentanoic acid

Fixed

28 ° C ( lactone )

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Mevalonate is a branched chain, saturated hydroxy fatty acid. Its salts are called mevalonates. The compound is chiral and has a stereogenic center. Therefore, there are two optical isomers, the enantiomers (R) and mevalonic acid (S)- mevalonic acid, wherein the (R)- mevalonic acid exists in nature.

The corresponding anion is an integral part of the biosynthesis of cholesterol. The formation of mevalonic acid from cytosolic 3-hydroxy -3-methylglutaryl -CoA ( HMG-CoA) under the catalysis of the 3- hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl -coenzyme A reductase (HMG -CoA reductase ) is a key reaction in the synthesis of cholesterol (see also the figure below).

In plants mevalonic acid is an important intermediate in the synthesis of terpenes (known mevalonate pathway ). Around 1955 it was discovered that they can very easily be incorporated in the synthesis of markers of cholesterol.

The further reaction takes place by means of mevalonate to Mevalonsäurephosphat.