Compound
formic acid
The simplest carboxylic acid, containing a single carbon. Occurs naturally in various sources including the venom of bee and ant stings, and is a useful organic synthetic reagent. Principally used as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed. Induces severe metabolic acidosis and ocular injury in human subjects.
Definition from ChEBI (CHEBI:30751), read 2026-09-23. CC BY 4.0.
What it touches on the way
Mechanistic reach
14 entities
14 entities reached.
0 reported hops14 assembled from the scaffold
- SLC16A1ProteinUNIPROT:P53985transported byInferred only175 paths25 endpoints
- GCH1ProteinUNIPROT:P30793substrate ofInferred only40 paths20 endpoints
- SLC16A7ProteinUNIPROT:O60669transported byInferred only30 paths6 endpoints
- MTHFD1ProteinUNIPROT:P11586substrate ofInferred only19 paths19 endpoints
- MTHFD2ProteinUNIPROT:P13995substrate ofInferred only13 paths13 endpoints
- ALDH1L1ProteinUNIPROT:O75891metabolized byInferred only8 paths8 endpoints
- MTHFD1LProteinUNIPROT:Q6UB35substrate ofInferred only7 paths7 endpoints
- SLC16A3ProteinUNIPROT:O15427transported byInferred only7 paths7 endpoints
- SLC26A6ProteinUNIPROT:Q9BXS9transported byInferred only6 paths6 endpoints
- MTHFD2LProteinUNIPROT:Q9H903substrate ofInferred only6 paths6 endpoints
- ALDH1L2ProteinUNIPROT:Q3SY69metabolized byInferred only5 paths5 endpoints
- SLC26A4ProteinUNIPROT:O43511transported byInferred only4 paths4 endpoints
What the reference databases state
Statements
48 statements
48 statements · 1 reference database · Subject: formic acid · Sources: Human-GEM
- formic acid is metabolised by ALDH1L1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR08758Inferred only
- formic acid is metabolised by ALDH1L2ProteinHuman-GEM MAR08758Inferred only
- formic acid is a substrate of GCH1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR04833Inferred only
- formic acid is a substrate of GCH1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR04834Inferred only
- formic acid is a substrate of MTHFD1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR04338Inferred only
- formic acid is a substrate of MTHFD1LProteinHuman-GEM MAR04340Inferred only
- formic acid is a substrate of MTHFD2ProteinHuman-GEM MAR04340Inferred only
- formic acid is a substrate of MTHFD2LProteinHuman-GEM MAR04340Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06023Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06009Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06038Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06041Inferred only
Show the remaining 36
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06037Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06031Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06016Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A3ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06038Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06031Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06040Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06016Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06023Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06039Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06038Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06002Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06041Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06037Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06009Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06038Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06002Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06009Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06016Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06023Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06031Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06037Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06039Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06040Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A5ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06041Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A7ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06023Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A7ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06041Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A7ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06009Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A7ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06038Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A7ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06016Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A8ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06016Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A8ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06038Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC16A8ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06023Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC19A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR04942Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC19A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR04944Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC26A4ProteinHuman-GEM MAR06529Inferred only
- formic acid is transported by SLC26A6ProteinHuman-GEM MAR08670Inferred only
Reactions
42 reactions
5-methylsulfanyl-2,3-dioxopentyl phosphate+water+dioxygen4-methylthio-2-oxobutanoic acid+formic acid+2proton+phosphate(3-)
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedcytosol
Human-GEM MAR00251CC BY 4.0Reference data
32-oxolanosterol+NADPH(4-)+dioxygen4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholesta-8,14,24-trien-3beta-ol+formic acid+water+NADP(3-)
Catalysed by CYP51A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.14.14.154cytosol
Human-GEM MAR01479CC BY 4.0Reference data
2proton+lanosterol+3NADPH(4-)+3dioxygen4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholesta-8,14,24-trien-3beta-ol+formic acid+4water+3NADP(3-)
Catalysed by CYP4F8
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.14.14.1cytosol
Human-GEM MAR01497CC BY 4.0Reference data
MAM00938c+NADPH(4-)+dioxygen4,4-dimethyl-8,14-cholestadien-3beta-ol+formic acid+water+NADP(3-)
Catalysed by CYP51A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.14.14.154cytosol
Human-GEM MAR01539CC BY 4.0Reference data
19-oxotestosterone+NADPH(4-)+dioxygen17beta-estradiol+formic acid+water+NADP(3-)
Catalysed by CYP19A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.14.14.1cytosol
Human-GEM MAR02031CC BY 4.0Reference data
19-oxo-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione+NADPH(4-)+dioxygenestrone+formic acid+water+NADP(3-)
Catalysed by CYP19A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.14.14.1cytosol
Human-GEM MAR02034CC BY 4.0Reference data
2proton+lanosterol+3NADPH(4-)+3dioxygen4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholesta-8,14,24-trien-3beta-ol+formic acid+4water+3NADP(3-)
Catalysed by CYP51A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.14.14.154endoplasmic reticulum
Human-GEM MAR02200CC BY 4.0Reference data
MAM01836x+waterCHEBI:1146900+formic acid+proton
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedperoxisome
Human-GEM MAR03476CC BY 4.0Reference data
MAM01836c+waterCHEBI:1146900+formic acid+proton
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedcytosol
Human-GEM MAR03477CC BY 4.0Reference data
S-formylglutathione+waterformic acid+CHEBI:16856+proton
Catalysed by ESD
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 3.1.2.12cytosol
Human-GEM MAR03937CC BY 4.0Reference data
GTP+water7,8-dihydroneopterin 3'-triphosphate+formic acid+proton
Catalysed by GCH1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 3.5.4.16cytosol
Human-GEM MAR04160CC BY 4.0Reference data
GTP+water7,8-dihydroneopterin 3'-triphosphate+formic acid+proton
Catalysed by GCH1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 3.5.4.16nucleus
Human-GEM MAR04162CC BY 4.0Reference data
On the label
Labelled products
5 products
Source: NIH DSLD · Ingredient: formic acid · 5 products · Declared amount per serving: Not stated
0 labels state an amount5 do not
- Dr. Ohhira'sProbiotics Original Formulaamount not statedper 2 Capsule(s)DSLD:37022
- Dr. Ohhira'sProbiotics Original Formulaamount not statedper 1 Capsule(s)DSLD:38666
- Dr. Ohhira'sProbiotics Professional Formulaamount not statedper 1 Capsule(s)DSLD:38622
- Premier Research LabsPremier Probiotic Capsamount not statedper 1 Capsule(s)DSLD:297565
- Premier Research LabsPremier Probiotic Capsamount not statedper 1 Capsule(s)DSLD:297566
Label record: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · CC0
Where it reaches
9 systems, 18 regions, 44 tissues, 45 transporter routes — routes, not measurements: transporters known to carry formic acid are expressed there, and no source reports it arriving.
Loading the model…
Other names
10 names
Resolves to: formic acid
- Also called
- aminic acidbilorinformylic acidH-COOHH‒COOHHCO2HHCOOHhydrogen carboxylic acidMethanoic acidmethoic acid