The molecule is a non-proteinogenic alpha-amino acid that is alanine substituted at position 3 by a 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinon-5-yl group. It is a non-proteinogenic alpha-amino acid and a member of monohydroxy-1,4-benzoquinones. It is a tautomer of a topaquinone zwitterion.
2-amino-3-(6-hydroxy-3,4-dioxocyclohexa-1,5-dien-1-yl)propanoic acid