[HTML][HTML] Trace derivatives of kynurenine potently activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)

SH Seok, ZX Ma, JB Feltenberger, H Chen… - Journal of Biological …, 2018 - ASBMB
Cellular metabolites act as important signaling cues, but are subject to complex unknown
chemistry. Kynurenine is a tryptophan metabolite that plays a crucial role in cancer and the
immune system. Despite its atypical, non-ligand-like, highly polar structure, kynurenine
activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a PER, ARNT, SIM (PAS) family transcription
factor that responds to diverse environmental and cellular ligands. The activity of kynurenine
is increased 100–1000-fold by incubation or long-term storage and relies on the …