Succinate

EYES: irrigate opened eyes for several minutes under running water. INGESTION: do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth with water (never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person). Seek immediate medical advice. SKIN: should be treated immediately by rinsing the affected parts in cold running water for at least 15 minutes, followed by thorough washing with soap and water. If necessary, the person should shower and change contaminated clothing and shoes, and then must seek medical attention. INHALATION: supply fresh air. If required provide artificial respiration.

At acute doses or exposures succinic acid is a skin irritant. Chronically high doses of succinate can lead to succinylation or succination of a variety of enzymes. Partial succinate dehydrogenase deficiency (15% to 50% of normal reference enzyme activity) in skeletal muscle leads to elevated succinate levels and causes mitochondrial myopathy with various symptoms, for example, brain involvement, cardiomyopathy, and/or exercise intolerance.

Succinate can inhibit the activities of α-KG–dependent oxygenases (KDMs) and the TET family of 5-methlycytosine (5mC) hydroxylases. Succinate also mediates allosteric inhibition of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs). Inhibition of HIF PHDs leads to activation of HIF-mediated pseudohypoxic response, whereas inhibition of KDMs and TET family of 5mC hydroxylases causes epigenetic alterations that ultimately cause cancer. Succination of KEAP1 in FH deficiency results in the constitutive activation of the antioxidant defense pathway mediated by NRF2, conferring a reductive milieu that promotes cell proliferation. Succination of the Krebs cycle enzyme Aco2 impairs aconitase activity in Fh1-deficient MEFs. Succination also causes irreversible inactivation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH).

Succinic acid is a precursor to some specialized polyesters. It is also a component of some alkyd resins. Succinic acid is used in the food and beverage industry, primarily as an acidity regulator. It is also sold as a food additive and dietary supplement, and is generally recognized as safe by the US FDA.