Tauro-alpha-muricholic acid D4

Tauro-alpha-muricholic acid D4, also known as TαMCA-D4, is a deuterated bile acid used in research and drug development. It is a stable isotope-labeled derivative of tauro-alpha-muricholic acid, which is a primary bile acid found in rodents. In research, TαMCA-D4 is used as an internal standard in mass spectrometry-based methods to quantify bile acids in biological samples. This is important because bile acids play a crucial role in lipid metabolism, and their levels can be indicative of various liver and metabolic diseases. TαMCA-D4 helps improve the accuracy and precision of quantification by compensating for any variability in sample preparation, ionization efficiency, and mass spectrometer performance. Chemically, TαMCA-D4 is a tauro-conjugated bile acid that contains four deuterium atoms, which are hydrogen isotopes. These deuterium atoms replace four of the hydrogen atoms in the molecule, making it heavier and more stable than the non-deuterated counterpart. The tauro moiety is a sulfated amino acid that makes the molecule water-soluble and enables it to be excreted in the bile and urine. The alpha configuration refers to the orientation of the hydroxyl group at the C3 position, which distinguishes it from beta-muricholic acid. Overall, TαMCA-D4 is a valuable tool in bile acid research and has potential applications in drug discovery and clinical diagnostics. Its chemical properties and biological functions make it a fascinating molecule to study and understand.