KMO

Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), also known as KMOX or kynurenine 3-hydroxylase, is a key enzyme in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism. It catalyzes the NADPH-dependent oxidation of L-kynurenine to 3-hydroxykynurenine, a critical step branching the pathway toward neurotoxic metabolites (e.g., quinolinic acid) versus neuroprotective ones (e.g., kynurenic acid).
Dysregulation of KMO activity links to neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), mood disorders (depression), and inflammatory diseases (inflammatory bowel disease). Several small-molecule KMO inhibitors are in preclinical or early clinical development, aiming to restore pathway balance and mitigate neuroinflammation or oxidative stress in these conditions.