Paba

PABA is a white crystalline substance that is only slightly soluble in water. It consists of a benzene ring substituted with an amino group and a carboxylic acid.

Functions
Organic

Tetrahydrofolate synthesis pathway

PABA is an essential nutrient for some bacteria and is sometimes called Vitamin Bx.

Paba 30/12/2008 Part 1

Paba 14/10/2008 Part 1

However, PABA is not essential to human health, and is therefore not officially classified as a vitamin. Although humans lack the ability to synthesize folate from PABA, it is sometimes marketed as an essential nutrient under the premise that it can stimulate intestinal bacteria.
PABA is an intermediate in bacterial synthesis of folate.

Paba 02/01/2009 Part 1

Paba 30/12/2008 Part 2

Sulfonamides are chemically similar to PABA, and their antibacterial activity is due to their ability to interfere with conversion of PABA to folate by dihydropteroate synthetase, and subsequent utilization, by bacteria.
Industrial
In the past, PABA has been widely used as a UV filter in sunscreen formulations.

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