Pyroglutamate
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Pyroglutamic acid[1]
IUPAC name	5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid
Other names	Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid, Pidolic acid, Pyroglutamate, 5-oxoproline
Identifiers
CAS number	[98-79-3]
PubChem	499
SMILES	C1CC(=O)NC1C(=O)O
Properties
Molecular formula	C5H7NO3
Molar mass	129.114
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references

Pyroglutamic acid, or pidolic acid, is an uncommon amino acid derivative in which the free amino group of glutamic acid cyclizes to form a lactam. It is found in many proteins including bacteriorhodopsin. N-terminal glutamine residues can spontaneously cyclize to become pyroglutamate. This is one of several forms of blocked N-terminals which present a problem for N-terminal sequencing using Edman chemistry, which requires a free primary amino group not present in pyroglutamic acid. The enzyme pyroglutamate aminopeptidase can restore a free N-terminus by cleaving off the pyroglutamate residue.^[2]

Uses

It is sold, over the counter, as a "smart drug" for improving blood circulation in the brain.

Neutralizing pyroglutamic acid with sodium bicarbonate in water results in NaPCA, the compound human skin uses to retain moisture.^{citation needed}

References

1. ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 8012.
2. ^ Podell DN, Abraham GN (March 15, 1978). "A technique for the removal of pyroglutamic acid from the amino terminus of proteins using calf liver pyroglutamate amino peptidase". Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 81 (1): 176–85. doi:10.1016/0006-291X(78)91646-7. PMID 26343.