3-Nitropropionic Acid (aka beta-Nitropropionic acid) is a mycotoxin and potent mitochondrial inhibitor. It is produced by a number of fungi and found widely in food, in sugar cane, and in Japanese fungally fermented staples such as miso, soy sauce, and katsuobushi. beta-Nitropropionic acid is also present in some traditional Chinese medicines. beta-Nitropropionic Acid can be systematically administered to produce localized striatal neurodegeneration mimicking the pathological features of Huntington's disease.