5-Aminopentanoic acid (or 5-aminovalerate) is a lysine degradation product. It can be produced both endogenously or through bacterial catabolism of lysine. 5-aminovalerate is formed via the following multi-step reaction: L-lysine leads to cadverine leads to L-piperideine leads 5-aminovalerate. In other words it is a metabolite of cadaverine which is formed via the intermediate, 1-piperideine. Cadaverine is a foul-smelling diamine compound produced by protein hydrolysis during putrefaction of animal tissue. High levels of 5-aminovalerate in biofluids may indicate bacterial overgrowth or endogenous tissue necrosis. In most cases endogenous 5-aminovalerate is thought to be primarily a microbial metabolite produced by the gut or oral microflora, although it can be produced endogenously. 5-aminovalerate is a normal metabolite present in human saliva, with a tendency to elevated concentration in patients with chronic periodontitis. Bacterial contamination and decomposition of salivary proteins is primarily responsible for elevated salivary levels. Beyond being a general waste product, 5-aminovalerate is also believed to act as a methylene homologue of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and functions as a weak GABA agonist. It is also known as an antifibrinolytic amino acid analog and so it functions as a weak inhibitor of the blood clotting pathway. 5- aminovalerate is an in vivo substrate of 4-aminobutyrate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase. It can be found in Corynebacterium.