DESCRIPTION Cinnabarinic acid is a kynurenine pathway metabolite of tryptophan and is produced by the oxidation of 3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid. It is a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGlu4R-specific) agonist. It activates mGlu4 receptors in transiently transfected HEK293 cells and is selective over all other mGlu subtypes. It decreases cAMP levels in native cultured cerebellar granule cells. It may be used in studies of the functions of components of the kynurenine metabolic pathway. It leads to loss of apoptosis and mitochondrial respiration. It induces apoptosis in thymocytes by the generation of reactive oxygen species. It also counteracts excitotoxic neuronal cell death induced by NMDA in mixed cultures of cortical cells. It has neuroprotective activity. (BOC Sciences Bioactive Compounds)