Glycocholic acid, or cholylglycine, is a crystalline bile acid involved in the emulsification of fats. It occurs as a sodium salt in the bile of mammals. It is a conjugate of cholic acid with glycine. Its anion is called glycocholate.
Metabolism The enzyme choloylglycine hydrolase converts glycocholic acid, to cholic acid and glycine:
In humans, the enzyme is an important component of the gut microbiome, where it metabolises many bile acids.
Clinical significance In a prospective study, positive associations were observed between prediagnostic plasma levels of seven conjugated bile acid metabolites, including glycocholic acid, and colon cancer risk. These findings support experimental data suggesting that high circulating bile acids promote colon cancer risk.
See also Taurocholic acid
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