(R)-3-Hydroxybutyric acid

(R)-3-Hydroxybutyric acid (CAS No.: 625-72-9) is an endogenous hydroxycarboxylic acid and a principal ketone body metabolite generated from acetoacetic acid via the action of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, playing a central role in cellular energy metabolism and metabolic adaptation. As a key intermediate in ketone body synthesis and degradation, it participates in fatty acid oxidation pathways and serves as a carbon source during conditions of altered glucose availability, making it highly relevant for studies of metabolic reprogramming, mitochondrial function, and systemic energy homeostasis. This compound is also associated with the catabolism of branched-chain amino acids and contributes to gluconeogenic processes in hepatic and renal systems. In biochemical research, (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid is widely utilized as a metabolic probe to investigate pathways related to ketosis, redox balance, and metabolic signaling, including its reported involvement in modulating histone deacetylase activity and cellular signaling cascades linked to energy sensing. Additionally, it serves as a valuable precursor in biosynthetic studies aimed at constructing structurally diverse molecules such as vitamins, antibiotics, and signaling compounds in microbial and synthetic biology contexts. In vitro studies typically employ concentrations ranging from low micromolar to millimolar levels depending on the experimental system, while in vivo models use dosing regimens tailored to specific metabolic or pharmacological endpoints. Overall, this compound is an important tool for elucidating mechanisms of metabolic regulation, pathway integration, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis in both cell-based and organismal research systems.