OHC—COOH; produced by the action of glycine dehydrogenases upon glycine or sarcosine, or from allantoic acid by allantoicase or via alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase. SYN: oxoacetic acid.
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gly·ox·yl·ic acid .glī-(.)äk-'sil-ik- n a syrupy or crystalline aldehyde acid C2H2O3 or C2H4O4 that is an important intermediate compound in plant and animal metabolism and occurs esp. in unripe fruit
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gly·ox·yl·ic ac·id (gli″ok-silґik) an α-keto acid occurring as an intermediate in the conversion of glycolic acid to glycine; it is also the primary precursor of oxalic acid and is excreted in primary hyperoxaluria, type I. See also glyoxylate cycle, under cycle.Medical dictionary. 2011.