Gluconate

Gluconate is the conjugate base of gluconic acid, a naturally occurring six-carbon sugar acid produced via the oxidation of glucose. In clinical practice, it has long been utilized as a physiologically neutral carrier for mineral cations, appearing as the anionic component in drugs such as calcium gluconate and ferrous gluconate to improve mineral solubility and bioavailability. Emerging pharmacological research, however, has identified gluconate as an active modulator of specific membrane proteins. It has been shown to act as a competitive and irreversible inhibitor of the plasma membrane citrate transporter (pmCiC), which restricts the uptake of extracellular citrate by cancer cells and subsequently suppresses tumor growth and metabolic flux. Additionally, gluconate serves as a blocker for CLC-3 chloride channels in the neonatal brain, demonstrating potential as an anti-convulsant for neonatal seizures. Within human cells, gluconate is metabolized by the enzyme gluconokinase (GNTK/IDNK) to 6-phosphogluconate, which then enters the pentose phosphate pathway to support cellular biosynthesis and antioxidant defense.

Other names

D-gluconateGluconic acid2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanoateGnt

Acts as a chelating agent to stabilize and deliver mineral cations; competitive and irreversible inhibitor of the plasma membrane citrate transporter (pmCiC) in cancer cells; blockade of CLC-3 chloride channels in developing neurons.