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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Preparation and In Vivo Use of an Activity-based Probe for N-acylethanolamine Acid Amidase
Published on: November 23, 2016
3-Penten-2-one, a novel aldehyde adduct, is a biomarker for increased acetaldehyde in urine
Valerie Walker1, Graham A Mills, Elizabeth M Stansbridge
1Clinical Biochemistry, Level D, South Block, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 6YD, UK.
Abstract:
Diagnostic profiling of urine for volatile compounds of around 400 patients using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) in alkaline conditions identified 3-penten-2-one (approximately 1 to >6.3 micromol/L) in 26 patients. Five were in barbiturate coma. 3-Penten-2-one, previously of unknown origin, was shown to be formed by aldol condensation of acetaldehyde with acetone or acetoacetate during analysis. Semi-quantification of acetaldehyde using in-fibre derivatisation HS-SPME, showed high concentrations in five urine (33-348 micromol/L) and two plasma (17 and 43 micromol/L) samples. Hence, urinary 3-penten-2-one is a useful biomarker for increased accumulation of acetaldehyde during abnormal metabolic stress.
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