[{"from": "human", "value": "Provide a brief overview of this molecule. [C][S][C][C][C][=Branch1][C][=O][C][=Branch1][C][=O][O-1]"}, {"from": "gpt", "value": "The molecule is the 2-oxo monocarboxylic acid anion derived from 4-methylthio-2-oxobutanoic acid. The major microspecies at pH 7.3, it is formed from L-methionine via the action of methionine transaminase. It has a role as a human metabolite and a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite. It is functionally related to a butyrate. It is a conjugate base of a 4-methylthio-2-oxobutanoic acid."}]