L-Carnitine

Description

L-Carnitine (levocarnitine, β-Hydroxy-γ-trimethylaminobutyric acid) is an endogenous quaternary ammonium compound with the molecular formula C₇H₁₅NO₃, a molecular weight of 161.20 Da, and CAS number 541-15-1. L-Carnitine plays an indispensable role in mitochondrial bioenergetics as the obligate carrier molecule for the translocation of long-chain fatty acyl groups across the inner mitochondrial membrane via the carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) shuttle system. This shuttle, comprising CPT-I (outer membrane), carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT), and CPT-II (inner membrane), is the rate-limiting step in mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation. Beyond fatty acid transport, L-Carnitine participates in the buffering of the mitochondrial acyl-CoA/CoA ratio, modulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) activity, and regulation of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation pathways.

In laboratory research, L-Carnitine is utilized in CPT-I and CPT-II enzyme kinetic assays, mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation flux measurements using radiolabeled substrates, cellular oxygen consumption rate (OCR) analysis via respirometry, acyl-CoA/free CoA ratio determinations, and mitochondrial membrane potential assessments. Researchers also employ L-Carnitine in studies of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling in lipid metabolism, PPARα-mediated transcriptional regulation of fatty acid oxidation genes, and ischemia-reperfusion injury models examining mitochondrial bioenergetic recovery.

Supplied as a lyophilized powder with ≥98% purity verified by HPLC. For storage and handling conditions, refer to the Certificate of Analysis provided with each lot. This product is intended strictly for laboratory research use only (RUO) and is not for human consumption, therapeutic use, or any diagnostic purposes.