Cellular bioenergetics of guanidinoacetic acid: the role of mitochondria

Abstract

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is a natural precursor of creatine, and a possible substrate for the creatine kinase (CK) enzyme system, serving as a creatine mimetic. Its direct role in cellular bioenergetics has been confirmed in several studies, however GAA utilization by CK seems to be a second-rate as compared to creatine, and compartment-dependent. Here we discuss various factors that might affect GAA use in high-energy phosphoryl transfer in the cytosol and mitochondria.