L-lactate

L-lactate is the physiological (S)-enantiomer of lactate, a key metabolic intermediate produced during glycolysis. In clinical practice, it is most commonly administered as sodium lactate via intravenous infusion for fluid resuscitation and the treatment of metabolic acidosis, often as a component of crystalloid solutions like Lactated Ringer's or Hartmann's solution. Upon administration, L-lactate is primarily metabolized in the liver to bicarbonate, thereby exerting a systemic alkalizing effect. Beyond its role as a buffering agent and fuel source, L-lactate functions as a signaling molecule by acting as an agonist for the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCAR1/GPR81). Recent research has also identified L-lactate as a substrate for lysine lactylation (Kla), a post-translational modification that regulates protein stability and gene expression. In the context of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), lactate-driven lactylation of the RNA methyltransferase NSUN2 has been shown to promote perineural invasion and disease progression by stabilizing pro-invasive transcripts.

Brand names

Sodium Lactate

Other names

(S)-2-hydroxypropanoateL-lactic acidSarcolactic acid(S)-lactate