formiminoglutamic acid

An intermediate metabolite in l-histidine catabolism in the conversion of l-histidine to l-glutamic acid, with the formimino group being transferred to tetrahydrofolate; it may appear in the urine of patients with folic acid or vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, or liver disease.

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for·mim·i·no·glu·tam·ic ac·id (for-mim″ĭ-no-gloo-tamґik) an intermediate in the catabolic pathway from histidine to glutamate. It may be excreted in the urine in liver disease, in vitamin B_{12> or} folic acid deficiency, or in glutamate formiminotransferase deficiency. Abbreviated FIGLU.