Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

D-Amino acids in the central nervous system in health and disease

Fuchs, Sabine A. ; Berger, Ruud ; Klomp, Leo W.J. and De Koning, Tom J. LU (2005) In Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 85(3). p.168-180
Abstract

Recent evidence has shown that D-amino acids are present in animals and humans in high concentrations and fulfill specific biological functions. In the central nervous system, two D-amino acids, D-serine and D-aspartate, occur in considerable concentrations. D-Serine is synthesized and metabolized endogenously and the same might account for D-aspartate. D-Serine has been studied most extensively and was shown to play a role in excitatory amino acid metabolism, being a co-agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Insight into D-serine metabolism is relevant for physiological NMDA receptor (NMDAr) activation and for all the disorders associated with an altered function of the NMDAr, such as schizophrenia, ischemia, epilepsy,... (More)

Recent evidence has shown that D-amino acids are present in animals and humans in high concentrations and fulfill specific biological functions. In the central nervous system, two D-amino acids, D-serine and D-aspartate, occur in considerable concentrations. D-Serine is synthesized and metabolized endogenously and the same might account for D-aspartate. D-Serine has been studied most extensively and was shown to play a role in excitatory amino acid metabolism, being a co-agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Insight into D-serine metabolism is relevant for physiological NMDA receptor (NMDAr) activation and for all the disorders associated with an altered function of the NMDAr, such as schizophrenia, ischemia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative disorders. D-Aspartate appears to play a role in development and endocrine function, but the precise function of D-aspartate and other D-amino acids in animals and humans requires further investigation. As D-amino acids play biological roles, alterations in the concentrations of D-amino acids might occur in some disorders and relate to the pathogenesis of these disorders. D-Amino acid concentrations may then not only help in the diagnostic process, but also provide novel therapeutic targets. Consequently, the presence and important roles of D-amino acids in higher organisms do not only challenge former theories on mammalian physiology, but also contribute to exciting new insights in human disease.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Central nervous system, D-Amino acid oxidase, D-Amino acids, D-Aspartate, D-Aspartic acid oxidase, D-Serine, Higher organisms, NMDA receptor, Serine racemase
in
Molecular Genetics and Metabolism
volume
85
issue
3
pages
13 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:20544462810
  • pmid:15979028
ISSN
1096-7192
DOI
10.1016/j.ymgme.2005.03.003
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
1d317088-c2e3-46a4-9c92-da526df22fd2
date added to LUP
2020-03-03 19:05:35
date last changed
2024-03-04 15:48:16
@article{1d317088-c2e3-46a4-9c92-da526df22fd2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Recent evidence has shown that D-amino acids are present in animals and humans in high concentrations and fulfill specific biological functions. In the central nervous system, two D-amino acids, D-serine and D-aspartate, occur in considerable concentrations. D-Serine is synthesized and metabolized endogenously and the same might account for D-aspartate. D-Serine has been studied most extensively and was shown to play a role in excitatory amino acid metabolism, being a co-agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Insight into D-serine metabolism is relevant for physiological NMDA receptor (NMDAr) activation and for all the disorders associated with an altered function of the NMDAr, such as schizophrenia, ischemia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative disorders. D-Aspartate appears to play a role in development and endocrine function, but the precise function of D-aspartate and other D-amino acids in animals and humans requires further investigation. As D-amino acids play biological roles, alterations in the concentrations of D-amino acids might occur in some disorders and relate to the pathogenesis of these disorders. D-Amino acid concentrations may then not only help in the diagnostic process, but also provide novel therapeutic targets. Consequently, the presence and important roles of D-amino acids in higher organisms do not only challenge former theories on mammalian physiology, but also contribute to exciting new insights in human disease.</p>}},
  author       = {{Fuchs, Sabine A. and Berger, Ruud and Klomp, Leo W.J. and De Koning, Tom J.}},
  issn         = {{1096-7192}},
  keywords     = {{Central nervous system; D-Amino acid oxidase; D-Amino acids; D-Aspartate; D-Aspartic acid oxidase; D-Serine; Higher organisms; NMDA receptor; Serine racemase}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{168--180}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Molecular Genetics and Metabolism}},
  title        = {{D-Amino acids in the central nervous system in health and disease}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgme.2005.03.003}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ymgme.2005.03.003}},
  volume       = {{85}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}