Isopropylmalic acid (isopropylmalate) is an intermediate in the

biosynthesis Biosynthesis is a multi-step, enzyme-catalyzed process where substrates are converted into more complex products in living organisms. In biosynthesis, simple compounds are modified, converted into other compounds, or joined to form macromolecules. ...

of leucine, synthesized from oxoisovalerate by

2-isopropylmalate synthase In enzymology, a 2-isopropylmalate synthase () is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction :acetyl-CoA + 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate + H2O \rightleftharpoons (2S)-2-isopropylmalate + CoA The three substrates of this enzyme are acetyl-CoA, ...

and converted into isopropyl-3-oxosuccinate by 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase. Two isomers are important, the 2- and 3-isopropyl derivatives, and these are interconverted by isopropylmalate dehydratase.

References

{{Pharmacy-stub Dicarboxylic acids Alpha hydroxy acids Isopropyl compounds