1
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Lee A, Henderson R, Aylward J, McCombe P. Gut Symptoms, Gut Dysbiosis and Gut-Derived Toxins in ALS. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1871. [PMID: 38339149 PMCID: PMC10856138 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Many pathogenetic mechanisms have been proposed for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recently, there have been emerging suggestions of a possible role for the gut microbiota. Gut microbiota have a range of functions and could influence ALS by several mechanisms. Here, we review the possible role of gut-derived neurotoxins/excitotoxins. We review the evidence of gut symptoms and gut dysbiosis in ALS. We then examine a possible role for gut-derived toxins by reviewing the evidence that these molecules are toxic to the central nervous system, evidence of their association with ALS, the existence of biochemical pathways by which these molecules could be produced by the gut microbiota and existence of mechanisms of transport from the gut to the blood and brain. We then present evidence that there are increased levels of these toxins in the blood of some ALS patients. We review the effects of therapies that attempt to alter the gut microbiota or ameliorate the biochemical effects of gut toxins. It is possible that gut dysbiosis contributes to elevated levels of toxins and that these could potentially contribute to ALS pathogenesis, but more work is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aven Lee
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia; (R.H.); (P.M.)
| | - Robert Henderson
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia; (R.H.); (P.M.)
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
- Wesley Research Institute, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD 4066, Australia;
| | - James Aylward
- Wesley Research Institute, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD 4066, Australia;
| | - Pamela McCombe
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia; (R.H.); (P.M.)
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
- Wesley Research Institute, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD 4066, Australia;
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2
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Swanson MA, Miller K, Young SP, Tong S, Ghaloul‐Gonzalez L, Neira‐Fresneda J, Schlichting L, Peck C, Gabel L, Friederich MW, Van Hove JLK. Cerebrospinal fluid amino acids glycine, serine, and threonine in nonketotic hyperglycinemia. J Inherit Metab Dis 2022; 45:734-747. [PMID: 35357708 PMCID: PMC9543955 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is caused by deficient glycine cleavage enzyme activity and characterized by elevated brain glycine. Metabolism of glycine is connected enzymatically to serine through serine hydroxymethyltransferase and shares transporters with serine and threonine. We aimed to evaluate changes in serine and threonine in NKH patients, and relate this to clinical outcome severity. Age-related reference values were developed for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) serine and threonine from 274 controls, and in a cross-sectional study compared to 61 genetically proven NKH patients, categorized according to outcome. CSF d-serine and l-serine levels were stereoselectively determined in seven NKH patients and compared to 29 age-matched controls. In addition to elevated CSF glycine, NKH patients had significantly decreased levels of CSF serine and increased levels of CSF threonine, even after age-adjustment. The CSF serine/threonine ratio discriminated between NKH patients and controls. The CSF glycine/serine aided in discrimination between severe and attenuated neonates with NKH. Over all ages, the CSF glycine, serine and threonine had moderate to fair correlation with outcome classes. After age-adjustment, only the CSF glycine level provided good discrimination between outcome classes. In untreated patients, d-serine was more reduced than l-serine, with a decreased d/l-serine ratio, indicating a specific impact on d-serine metabolism. We conclude that in NKH the elevation of glycine is accompanied by changes in l-serine, d-serine and threonine, likely reflecting a perturbation of the serine shuttle and metabolism, and of one-carbon metabolism. This provides additional guidance on diagnosis and prognosis, and opens new therapeutic avenues to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Swanson
- Section of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of PediatricsUniversity of ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Kristen Miller
- Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Biostatistics CoreUniversity of Colorado and Children's Hospital ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Sarah P. Young
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of PediatricsDuke University School of MedicineDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Suhong Tong
- Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Biostatistics CoreUniversity of Colorado and Children's Hospital ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Lina Ghaloul‐Gonzalez
- Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Department of PediatricsUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Human GeneticsGraduate School of Public Health, University of PittsburghPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Lisa Schlichting
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineChildren's Hospital ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Cheryl Peck
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineChildren's Hospital ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Linda Gabel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineChildren's Hospital ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Marisa W. Friederich
- Section of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of PediatricsUniversity of ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineChildren's Hospital ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Johan L. K. Van Hove
- Section of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of PediatricsUniversity of ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineChildren's Hospital ColoradoAuroraColoradoUSA
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3
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Kariapper FS, Thanzeel FY, Zandi LS, Wolf C. Selective chiroptical sensing of D/L-cysteine. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:3056-3060. [PMID: 35343543 DOI: 10.1039/d2ob00198e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A chromophoric bifunctional probe design that allows selective chiroptical sensing of cysteine in aqueous solution is introduced. The common need for chiral HPLC separation is eliminated which expedites and simplifies the sample analysis while reducing solvent waste. Screening of the reaction between six phenacyl bromides and the enantiomers of cysteine showed that cyclization to an unsaturated thiomorpholine scaffold coincides with characteristic UV and CD effects, in particular when the reagent carries a proximate auxochromic nitro group. The UV changes and CD inductions were successfully used for determination of the absolute configuration, enantiomeric composition and total concentration of 18 test samples. This assay is highly selective for free cysteine while other amino acids, cysteine derived small peptides and biothiols do not interfere with the chiroptical signal generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Safia Kariapper
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
| | - F Yushra Thanzeel
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
| | - Lily S Zandi
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
| | - Christian Wolf
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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4
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Sripada A, Thanzeel FY, Wolf C. Unified sensing of the concentration and enantiomeric composition of chiral compounds with an achiral probe. Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2022.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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5
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Maugard M, Vigneron PA, Bolaños JP, Bonvento G. l-Serine links metabolism with neurotransmission. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 197:101896. [PMID: 32798642 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Brain energy metabolism is often considered as a succession of biochemical steps that metabolize the fuel (glucose and oxygen) for the unique purpose of providing sufficient ATP to maintain the huge information processing power of the brain. However, a significant fraction (10-15 %) of glucose is shunted away from the ATP-producing pathway (oxidative phosphorylation) and may be used to support other functions. Recent studies have pointed to the marked compartmentation of energy metabolic pathways between neurons and glial cells. Here, we focused our attention on the biosynthesis of l-serine, a non-essential amino acid that is formed exclusively in glial cells (mostly astrocytes) by re-routing the metabolic fate of the glycolytic intermediate, 3-phosphoglycerate (3PG). This metabolic pathway is called the phosphorylated pathway and transforms 3PG into l-serine via three enzymatic reactions. We first compiled the available data on the mechanisms that regulate the flux through this metabolic pathway. We then reviewed the current evidence that is beginning to unravel the roles of l-serine both in the healthy and diseased brain, leading to the notion that this specific metabolic pathway connects glial metabolism with synaptic activity and plasticity. We finally suggest that restoring astrocyte-mediated l-serine homeostasis may provide new therapeutic strategies for brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Maugard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, MIRCen, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Pierre-Antoine Vigneron
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, MIRCen, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Juan P Bolaños
- Institute of Functional Biology and Genomics (IBFG), Universidad de Salamanca, CSIC, Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Gilles Bonvento
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, MIRCen, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
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6
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Thanzeel FY, Sripada A, Wolf C. Quantitative Chiroptical Sensing of Free Amino Acids, Biothiols, Amines, and Amino Alcohols with an Aryl Fluoride Probe. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:16382-16387. [PMID: 31564090 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b07588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The comprehensive determination of the absolute configuration, enantiomeric ratio, and total amount of standard amino acids by optical methods adaptable to high-throughput screening with modern plate readers has remained a major challenge to date. We now present a small-molecular probe that smoothly reacts with amino acids and biothiols in aqueous solution and thereby generates distinct chiroptical responses to accomplish this task. The achiral sensor is readily available, inexpensive, and suitable for chiroptical analysis of each of the 19 standard amino acids, biothiols, aliphatic, and aromatic amines and amino alcohols. The sensing method is operationally simple, and data collection and processing are straightforward. The utility and practicality of the assay are demonstrated with the accurate analysis of 10 aspartic acid samples covering a wide concentration range and largely varying enantiomeric compositions. Accurate er sensing of 85 scalemic samples of Pro, Met, Cys, Ala, methylpyrrolidine, 1-(2-naphthyl)amine, and mixtures thereof is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Yushra Thanzeel
- Department of Chemistry , Georgetown University , 37th and O Streets , Washington , D.C. 20057 , United States
| | - Archita Sripada
- Department of Chemistry , Georgetown University , 37th and O Streets , Washington , D.C. 20057 , United States
| | - Christian Wolf
- Department of Chemistry , Georgetown University , 37th and O Streets , Washington , D.C. 20057 , United States
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7
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Zhou H, Ran G, Masson JF, Wang C, Zhao Y, Song Q. Rational Design of Magnetic Micronanoelectrodes for Recognition and Ultrasensitive Quantification of Cysteine Enantiomers. Anal Chem 2018; 90:3374-3381. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Haifeng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7 Canada
| | - Guoxia Ran
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jean-Francois Masson
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7 Canada
| | - Chan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Qijun Song
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
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8
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Murtas G, Sacchi S, Valentino M, Pollegioni L. Biochemical Properties of Human D-Amino Acid Oxidase. Front Mol Biosci 2017; 4:88. [PMID: 29326945 PMCID: PMC5737116 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2017.00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
D-amino acid oxidase catalyzes the oxidative deamination of D-amino acids. In the brain, the NMDA receptor coagonist D-serine has been proposed as its physiological substrate. In order to shed light on the mechanisms regulating D-serine concentration at the cellular level, we biochemically characterized human DAAO (hDAAO) in greater depth. In addition to clarify the physical-chemical properties of the enzyme, we demonstrated that divalent ions and nucleotides do not affect flavoenzyme function. Moreover, the definition of hDAAO substrate specificity demonstrated that D-cysteine is the best substrate, which made it possible to propose it as a putative physiological substrate in selected tissues. Indeed, the flavoenzyme shows a preference for hydrophobic amino acids, some of which are molecules relevant in neurotransmission, i.e., D-kynurenine, D-DOPA, and D-tryptophan. hDAAO shows a very low affinity for the flavin cofactor. The apoprotein form exists in solution in equilibrium between two alternative conformations: the one at higher affinity for FAD is favored in the presence of an active site ligand. This may represent a mechanism to finely modulate hDAAO activity by substrate/inhibitor presence. Taken together, the peculiar properties of hDAAO seem to have evolved in order to use this flavoenzyme in different tissues to meet different physiological needs related to D-amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Murtas
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Silvia Sacchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy.,The Protein Factory, Politecnico di Milano and Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Valentino
- The Protein Factory, Politecnico di Milano and Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Milan, Italy.,Sezione Adolfo Quilico, Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR, Milan, Italy
| | - Loredano Pollegioni
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy.,The Protein Factory, Politecnico di Milano and Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Milan, Italy
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9
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Wimmer ME, Briand LA, Fant B, Guercio LA, Arreola AC, Schmidt HD, Sidoli S, Han Y, Garcia BA, Pierce RC. Paternal cocaine taking elicits epigenetic remodeling and memory deficits in male progeny. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1641-1650. [PMID: 28220045 PMCID: PMC5568460 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Paternal environmental perturbations including exposure to drugs of abuse can produce profound effects on the physiology and behavior of offspring via epigenetic modifications. Here we show that adult drug-naive male offspring of cocaine-exposed sires have memory formation deficits and associated reductions in NMDA receptor-mediated hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Reduced levels of the endogenous NMDA receptor co-agonist d-serine were accompanied by increased expression of the d-serine degrading enzyme d-amino acid oxidase (Dao1) in the hippocampus of cocaine-sired male progeny. Increased Dao1 transcription was associated with enrichment of permissive epigenetic marks on histone proteins in the hippocampus of male cocaine-sired progeny, some of which were enhanced near the Dao1 locus. Finally, hippocampal administration of d-serine reversed both the memory formation and synaptic plasticity deficits. Collectively, these results demonstrate that paternal cocaine exposure produces epigenetic remodeling in the hippocampus leading to NMDA receptor-dependent memory formation and synaptic plasticity impairments only in male progeny, which has significant implications for the male descendants of chronic cocaine users.
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Affiliation(s)
- ME Wimmer
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - LA Briand
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - B Fant
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - LA Guercio
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - AC Arreola
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - HD Schmidt
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - S Sidoli
- Epigenetic Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Y Han
- Epigenetic Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - BA Garcia
- Epigenetic Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - RC Pierce
- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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10
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Metcalf JS, Dunlop RA, Powell JT, Banack SA, Cox PA. L-Serine: a Naturally-Occurring Amino Acid with Therapeutic Potential. Neurotox Res 2017; 33:213-221. [PMID: 28929385 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-017-9814-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In human neuroblastoma cell cultures, non-human primates and human beings, L-serine is neuroprotective, acting through a variety of biochemical and molecular mechanisms. Although L-serine is generally classified as a non-essential amino acid, it is probably more appropriate to term it as a "conditional non-essential amino acid" since, under certain circumstances, vertebrates cannot synthesize it in sufficient quantities to meet necessary cellular demands. L-serine is biosynthesized in the mammalian central nervous system from 3-phosphoglycerate and serves as a precursor for the synthesis of the amino acids glycine and cysteine. Physiologically, it has a variety of roles, perhaps most importantly as a phosphorylation site in proteins. Mutations in the metabolic enzymes that synthesize L-serine have been implicated in various human diseases. Dosing of animals with L-serine and human clinical trials investigating the therapeutic effects of L-serine support the FDA's determination that L-serine is generally regarded as safe (GRAS); it also appears to be neuroprotective. We here consider the role of L-serine in neurological disorders and its potential as a therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Metcalf
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA
| | - R A Dunlop
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA
| | - J T Powell
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA
| | - S A Banack
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA
| | - P A Cox
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA.
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11
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Thanzeel FY, Wolf C. Substrate‐Specific Amino Acid Sensing Using a Molecular
d
/
l
‐Cysteine Probe for Comprehensive Stereochemical Analysis in Aqueous Solution. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:7276-7281. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201701188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Yushra Thanzeel
- Department of Chemistry Georgetown University 37th and O Streets Washington DC 20057 USA
| | - Christian Wolf
- Department of Chemistry Georgetown University 37th and O Streets Washington DC 20057 USA
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12
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Thanzeel FY, Wolf C. Substratspezifische Analyse von Aminosäuren mit Sensoren für
d
/
l
‐Cystein: umfassende stereochemische Untersuchungen in wässriger Lösung. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201701188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Yushra Thanzeel
- Department of Chemistry Georgetown University 37th and O Streets Washington DC 20057 USA
| | - Christian Wolf
- Department of Chemistry Georgetown University 37th and O Streets Washington DC 20057 USA
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13
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Wang J, Zhang K, Chen X, Liu X, Teng H, Zhao M, Sun Z. Epigenetic Activation of ASCT2 in the Hippocampus Contributes to Depression-Like Behavior by Regulating D-Serine in Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:139. [PMID: 28536503 PMCID: PMC5422558 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The roles of D-serine in depression are raised concerned recently as an intrinsic co-agonist for the NMDA receptor. However, the mechanisms underlying its regulation are not fully elucidated. ASCT2 is a Na+-dependent D-serine transporter. We found that decreased D-serine and increased hippocampal ASCT2 levels correlated with chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) in mice. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA-mediated knockdown of ASCT2 and the administration of exogenous D-serine in the hippocampus alleviated CSDS-induced social avoidance and immobility. In vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that upregulation of ASCT2 expression in CSDS was regulated through histone hyper-acetylation, not DNA methylation in its promoter region. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the co-localization of ASCT2 and D-serine. Uptake of D-serine by ASCT2 was demonstrated by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Our results indicate that CSDS induces ASCT2 expression through epigenetic activation and decreases hippocampal D-serine levels, leading to social avoidance, and immobility. Thus, targeting D-serine transport represents an attractive new strategy for treating depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiesi Wang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Xiaojuan Chen
- Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Huajing Teng
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Zhongsheng Sun
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical CollegeWenzhou, China
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14
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Zheng HF, Wang WQ, Li XM, Rauw G, Baker GB. Body fluid levels of neuroactive amino acids in autism spectrum disorders: a review of the literature. Amino Acids 2016; 49:57-65. [PMID: 27686223 PMCID: PMC5241332 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-016-2332-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A review of studies on the body fluid levels of neuroactive amino acids, including glutamate, glutamine, taurine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, tryptophan, d-serine, and others, in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is given. The results reported in the literature are generally inconclusive and contradictory, but there has been considerable variation among the previous studies in terms of factors such as age, gender, number of subjects, intelligence quotient, and psychoactive medication being taken. Future studies should include simultaneous analyses of a large number of amino acids [including d-serine and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)] and standardization of the factors mentioned above. It may also be appropriate to use saliva sampling to detect amino acids in ASD patients in the future—this is noninvasive testing that can be done easily more frequently than other sampling, thus providing more dynamic monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Fei Zheng
- Mental Health Research Laboratory, Xiamen Xianyue Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian, China.,Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Wen-Qiang Wang
- Mental Health Research Laboratory, Xiamen Xianyue Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Xin-Min Li
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Gail Rauw
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Glen B Baker
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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Genome-wide association study of NMDA receptor coagonists in human cerebrospinal fluid and plasma. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:1557-64. [PMID: 25666758 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Revised: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) coagonists glycine, D-serine and L-proline play crucial roles in NMDAR-dependent neurotransmission and are associated with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. We conducted the first genome-wide association study of concentrations of these coagonists and their enantiomers in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of human subjects from the general population (N=414). Genetic variants at chromosome 22q11.2, located in and near PRODH (proline dehydrogenase), were associated with L-proline in plasma (β=0.29; P=6.38 × 10(-10)). The missense variant rs17279437 in the proline transporter SLC6A20 was associated with L-proline in CSF (β=0.28; P=9.68 × 10(-9)). Suggestive evidence of association was found for the D-serine plasma-CSF ratio at the D-amino-acid oxidase (DAO) gene (β=-0.28; P=9.08 × 10(-8)), whereas a variant in SRR (that encodes serine racemase and is associated with schizophrenia) constituted the most strongly associated locus for the L-serine to D-serine ratio in CSF. All these genes are highly expressed in rodent meninges and choroid plexus, anatomical regions relevant to CSF physiology. The enzymes and transporters they encode may be targeted to further construe the nature of NMDAR coagonist involvement in NMDAR gating. Furthermore, the highlighted genetic variants may be followed up in clinical populations, for example, schizophrenia and 22q11 deletion syndrome. Overall, this targeted metabolomics approach furthers the understanding of NMDAR coagonist concentration variability and sets the stage for non-targeted CSF metabolomics projects.
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Rama Rao KV, Kielian T. Neuron-astrocyte interactions in neurodegenerative diseases: Role of neuroinflammation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 6:245-263. [PMID: 26543505 DOI: 10.1111/cen3.12237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Selective neuron loss in discrete brain regions is a hallmark of various neurodegenerative disorders, although the mechanisms responsible for this regional vulnerability of neurons remain largely unknown. Earlier studies attributed neuron dysfunction and eventual loss during neurodegenerative diseases as exclusively cell autonomous. Although cell-intrinsic factors are one critical aspect in dictating neuron death, recent evidence also supports the involvement of other central nervous system cell types in propagating non-cell autonomous neuronal injury during neurodegenerative diseases. One such example is astrocytes, which support neuronal and synaptic function, but can also contribute to neuroinflammatory processes through robust chemokine secretion. Indeed, aberrations in astrocyte function have been shown to negatively impact neuronal integrity in several neurological diseases. The present review focuses on neuroinflammatory paradigms influenced by neuron-astrocyte cross-talk in the context of select neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kakulavarapu V Rama Rao
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Tammy Kielian
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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El Arfani A, Albertini G, Bentea E, Demuyser T, Van Eeckhaut A, Smolders I, Massie A. Alterations in the motor cortical and striatal glutamatergic system and D-serine levels in the bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine rat model for Parkinson's disease. Neurochem Int 2015; 88:88-96. [PMID: 26172319 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2015.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is hallmarked by progressive degeneration of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) neurons and is associated with aberrant glutamatergic activity. However, studies on the glutamatergic system in the motor cortex and striatum, two motor loop-related areas, are lacking in the clinically relevant bilateral SNc 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model, and therefore led to the rationale behind the present investigations. Using Western blotting, the expression levels of the glial glutamate transporters, GLT-1 and GLAST, as well as xCT, the specific subunit of system xc(-), and the vesicular glutamate transporters, VGLUT1 and 2 were investigated at two different time points (1 week and 2 weeks) post-lesion. In addition, the total content of glutamate was measured. Moreover, the total D-serine levels were, to the best of our knowledge, studied for the first time in these two PD-related areas in the bilateral 6-OHDA rat model. In the motor cortex, no significant changes were observed in the different glutamate transporter expression levels in the bilaterally-lesioned rats. In the striatum, GLAST expression was significantly decreased at both time points whereas VGLUT1 and 2 expressions were significantly decreased 2 weeks after bilateral 6-OHDA lesion. Interestingly, bilateral 6-OHDA SNc lesion resulted in an enhancement of the total d-serine content in both motor cortex and striatum at 1 week post-lesion suggesting its possible involvement in the pathophysiology of PD. In conclusion, this study demonstrates disturbed glutamate and D-serine regulation in the bilateral SNc-lesioned brain which could contribute to the behavioral impairments in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa El Arfani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Giulia Albertini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Eduard Bentea
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Thomas Demuyser
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Ann Van Eeckhaut
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Ilse Smolders
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Ann Massie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
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Vorlová B, Nachtigallová D, Jirásková-Vaníčková J, Ajani H, Jansa P, Rezáč J, Fanfrlík J, Otyepka M, Hobza P, Konvalinka J, Lepšík M. Malonate-based inhibitors of mammalian serine racemase: kinetic characterization and structure-based computational study. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 89:189-97. [PMID: 25462239 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Overactivation of NMDA receptors has been implicated in various neuropathological conditions, including brain ischaemia, neurodegenerative disorders and epilepsy. Production of d-serine, an NMDA receptor co-agonist, from l-serine is catalyzed in vivo by the pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme serine racemase. Specific inhibition of this enzyme has been proposed as a promising strategy for treatment of neurological conditions caused by NMDA receptor dysfunction. Here we present the synthesis and activity analysis of a series of malonate-based inhibitors of mouse serine racemase (mSR). The compounds possessed IC50 values ranging from 40 ± 11 mM for 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)malonate down to 57 ± 1 μM for 2,2-dichloromalonate, the most effective competitive mSR inhibitor known to date. The structure-activity relationship of the whole series in the human orthologue (hSR) was interpreted using Glide docking, WaterMap analysis of hydration and quantum mechanical calculations based on the X-ray structure of the hSR/malonate complex. Docking into the hSR active site with three thermodynamically favourable water molecules was able to discern qualitatively between good and weak inhibitors. Further improvement in ranking was obtained using advanced PM6-D3H4X/COSMO semiempirical quantum mechanics-based scoring which distinguished between the compounds with IC50 better/worse than 2 mM. We have thus not only found a new potent hSR inhibitor but also worked out a computer-assisted protocol to rationalize the binding affinity which will thus aid in search for more effective SR inhibitors. Novel, potent hSR inhibitors may represent interesting research tools as well as drug candidates for treatment of diseases associated with NMDA receptor overactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Vorlová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Nachtigallová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Jirásková-Vaníčková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Haresh Ajani
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Palacky University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Jansa
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Rezáč
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Otyepka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Palacky University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Hobza
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Palacky University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Konvalinka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
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Horak J, Gerhardt H, Theiner J, Lindner W. Correlation between amino acid racemization and processing conditions for various wheat products, oil seed press cakes and lignin samples. FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS PROCESSING 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbp.2013.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Errico F, Nisticò R, Di Giorgio A, Squillace M, Vitucci D, Galbusera A, Piccinin S, Mango D, Fazio L, Middei S, Trizio S, Mercuri NB, Teule MA, Centonze D, Gozzi A, Blasi G, Bertolino A, Usiello A. Free D-aspartate regulates neuronal dendritic morphology, synaptic plasticity, gray matter volume and brain activity in mammals. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e417. [PMID: 25072322 PMCID: PMC4119226 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2014.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Revised: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
D-aspartate (D-Asp) is an atypical amino acid, which is especially abundant in the developing mammalian brain, and can bind to and activate N-methyl-D-Aspartate receptors (NMDARs). In line with its pharmacological features, we find that mice chronically treated with D-Asp show enhanced NMDAR-mediated miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and basal cerebral blood volume in fronto-hippocampal areas. In addition, we show that both chronic administration of D-Asp and deletion of the gene coding for the catabolic enzyme D-aspartate oxidase (DDO) trigger plastic modifications of neuronal cytoarchitecture in the prefrontal cortex and CA1 subfield of the hippocampus and promote a cytochalasin D-sensitive form of synaptic plasticity in adult mouse brains. To translate these findings in humans and consistent with the experiments using Ddo gene targeting in animals, we performed a hierarchical stepwise translational genetic approach. Specifically, we investigated the association of variation in the gene coding for DDO with complex human prefrontal phenotypes. We demonstrate that genetic variation predicting reduced expression of DDO in postmortem human prefrontal cortex is mapped on greater prefrontal gray matter and activity during working memory as measured with MRI. In conclusion our results identify novel NMDAR-dependent effects of D-Asp on plasticity and physiology in rodents, which also map to prefrontal phenotypes in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Errico
- Laboratory of Behavioural Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy,Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples ‘Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - R Nisticò
- Centro Europeo per la Ricerca sul Cervello (CERC)/Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - A Di Giorgio
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza', San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - M Squillace
- Laboratory of Behavioural Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - D Vitucci
- Laboratory of Behavioural Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy,Faculty of Motor Sciences, University of Naples ‘Parthenope', Naples, Italy
| | - A Galbusera
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Rovereto, Italy
| | - S Piccinin
- Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity Unit, European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Rome, Italy
| | - D Mango
- Centro Europeo per la Ricerca sul Cervello (CERC)/Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - L Fazio
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Basic Sciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - S Middei
- Centro Europeo per la Ricerca sul Cervello (CERC)/Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - S Trizio
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Basic Sciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - N B Mercuri
- Centro Europeo per la Ricerca sul Cervello (CERC)/Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy,Department of Neuroscience, Tor Vergata University Hospital Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - M A Teule
- Centro Europeo per la Ricerca sul Cervello (CERC)/Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - D Centonze
- Centro Europeo per la Ricerca sul Cervello (CERC)/Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy,Department of Neuroscience, Tor Vergata University Hospital Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - A Gozzi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Rovereto, Italy
| | - G Blasi
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Basic Sciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - A Bertolino
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Basic Sciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy,pRED, Neuroscience DTA, Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd, Basel, Switzerland,Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Basic Sciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro', 70121 Bari, Italy. E-mail:
| | - A Usiello
- Laboratory of Behavioural Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy,Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples (SUN), Caserta, Italy,Laboratory of Behavioural Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, Via G. Salvatore, 486, 80145 Naples, Italy. E-mail:
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NMDA-receptor coagonists in serum, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenia patients: A meta-analysis of case–control studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:1587-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Revised: 06/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Scianni M, Antonilli L, Chece G, Cristalli G, Di Castro MA, Limatola C, Maggi L. Fractalkine (CX3CL1) enhances hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) function via D-serine and adenosine receptor type A2 (A2AR) activity. J Neuroinflammation 2013; 10:108. [PMID: 23981568 PMCID: PMC3765929 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-10-108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play fundamental roles in basic brain functions such as excitatory neurotransmission and learning and memory processes. Their function is largely regulated by factors released by glial cells, including the coagonist d-serine. We investigated whether the activation of microglial CX3CR1 induces the release of factors that modulate NMDAR functions. METHODS We recorded the NMDAR component of the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (NMDA-fEPSPs) elicited in the CA1 stratum radiatum of mouse hippocampal slices by Shaffer collateral stimulation and evaluated D-serine content in the extracellular medium of glial primary cultures by mass spectrometry analysis. RESULTS We demonstrated that CX3CL1 increases NMDA-fEPSPs by a mechanism involving the activity of the adenosine receptor type A2 (A2AR) and the release of the NMDAR coagonist D-serine. Specifically (1) the selective A2AR blocker 7-(2-phenylethyl)-5-amino-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo-[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine (SCH58261) and the genetic ablation of A2AR prevent CX3CL1 action while the A2AR agonist 5-(6-amino-2-(phenethylthio)-9H-purin-9-yl)-N-ethyl-3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-carboxamide (VT7) mimics CX3CL1 effect, and (2) the selective blocking of the NMDAR glycine (and D-serine) site by 5,7-dicholorokynurenic acid (DCKA), the enzymatic degradation of D-serine by D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) and the saturation of the coagonist site by D-serine, all block the CX3CL1 effect. In addition, mass spectrometry analysis demonstrates that stimulation of microglia and astrocytes with CX3CL1 or VT7 increases D-serine release in the extracellular medium. CONCLUSIONS CX3CL1 transiently potentiates NMDAR function though mechanisms involving A2AR activity and the release of D-serine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Scianni
- Institute Pasteur-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
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Curcio L, Podda MV, Leone L, Piacentini R, Mastrodonato A, Cappelletti P, Sacchi S, Pollegioni L, Grassi C, D'Ascenzo M. Reduced D-serine levels in the nucleus accumbens of cocaine-treated rats hinder the induction of NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 136:1216-30. [PMID: 23518710 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awt036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine seeking behaviour and relapse have been linked to impaired potentiation and depression at excitatory synapses in the nucleus accumbens, but the mechanism underlying this process is poorly understood. We show that, in the rat nucleus accumbens core, D-serine is the endogenous coagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, and its presence is essential for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent potentiation and depression of synaptic transmission. Nucleus accumbens core slices obtained from cocaine-treated rats after 1 day of abstinence presented significantly reduced D-serine concentrations, increased expression of the D-serine degrading enzyme, D-amino acid oxidase, and downregulated expression of serine racemase, the enzyme responsible for D-serine synthesis. The D-serine deficit was associated with impairment of potentiation and depression of glutamatergic synaptic transmission, which was restored by slice perfusion with exogenous D-serine. Furthermore, in vivo administration of D-serine directly into the nucleus accumbens core blocked behavioural sensitization to cocaine. These results provide evidence for a critical role of D-serine signalling in synaptic plasticity relevant to cocaine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Curcio
- Institute of Human Physiology, Medical School, Università Cattolica, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Filali M, Lalonde R. The effects of subchronic d-serine on left–right discrimination learning, social interaction, and exploratory activity in APPswe/PS1 mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 701:152-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Revised: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/19/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Nunes EA, MacKenzie EM, Rossolatos D, Perez-Parada J, Baker GB, Dursun SM. D-serine and schizophrenia: an update. Expert Rev Neurother 2012; 12:801-12. [PMID: 22853788 DOI: 10.1586/ern.12.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Considering the lengthy history of pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia, the development of novel antipsychotic agents targeting the glutamatergic system is relatively new. A glutamatergic deficit has been proposed to underlie many of the symptoms typically observed in schizophrenia, particularly the negative and cognitive symptoms (which are less likely to respond to current treatments). D-serine is an important coagonist of the glutamate NMDA receptor, and accumulating evidence suggests that D-serine levels and/or activity may be dysfunctional in schizophrenia and that facilitation of D-serine transmission could provide a significant therapeutic breakthrough, especially where conventional treatments have fallen short. A summary of the relevant animal data, as well as genetic studies and clinical trials examining D-serine as an adjunct to standard antipsychotic therapy, is provided in this article. Together, the evidence suggests that research on the next generation of antipsychotic agents should include studies on increasing brain levels of D-serine or mimicking its action on the NMDA receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emerson A Nunes
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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D-Serine Production, Degradation, and Transport in ALS: Critical Role of Methodology. Neurol Res Int 2012; 2012:625245. [PMID: 23029613 PMCID: PMC3458282 DOI: 10.1155/2012/625245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2012] [Accepted: 07/31/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammalian systems, D-serine is perhaps the most biologically active D-amino acid described to date. D-serine is a coagonist at the NMDA-receptor, and receptor activation is dependent on D-serine binding. Because D-serine binding dramatically increases receptor affinity for glutamate, it can produce excitotoxicity without any change in glutamate per se. D-serine is twofold higher in the spinal cords of mSOD1 (G93A) ALS mice, and the deletion of serine racemase (SR), the enzyme that produces D-serine, results in an earlier onset of symptoms, but with a much slower rate of disease progression. Localization studies within the brain suggest that mSOD1 and subsequent glial activation could contribute to the alterations in SR and D-serine seen in ALS. By also degrading both D-serine and L-serine, SR appears to be a prime bidirectional regulator of free serine levels in vivo. Therefore, accurate and reproducible measurements of D-serine are critical to understanding its regulation by SR. Several methods for measuring D-serine have been employed, and significant issues related to validation and standardization remain unresolved. Further insights into the intracellular transport and tissue-specific compartmentalization of D-serine within the CNS will aid in the understanding of the role of D-serine in the pathogenesis of ALS.
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Structure–function relationships in human d-amino acid oxidase. Amino Acids 2012; 43:1833-50. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-012-1345-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2012] [Accepted: 06/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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New insights on the role of free D-aspartate in the mammalian brain. Amino Acids 2012; 43:1861-71. [PMID: 22851050 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-012-1356-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Free D-aspartate (D-Asp) occurs in substantial amounts in the brain at the embryonic phase and in the first few postnatal days, and strongly decreases in adulthood. Temporal reduction of D-Asp levels depends on the postnatal onset of D-aspartate oxidase (DDO) activity, the only enzyme able to selectively degrade this D-amino acid. Several results indicate that D-Asp binds and activates N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Accordingly, recent studies have demonstrated that deregulated, higher levels of D-Asp, in knockout mice for Ddo gene and in D-Asp-treated mice, modulate hippocampal NMDAR-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) and spatial memory. Moreover, similarly to D-serine, administration of D-Asp to old mice is able to rescue the physiological age-related decay of hippocampal LTP. In agreement with a neuromodulatory action of D-Asp on NMDARs, increased levels of this D-amino acid completely suppress long-term depression at corticostriatal synapses and attenuate the prepulse inhibition deficits produced in mice by the psychotomimetic drugs, amphetamine and MK-801. Based on the evidence which points to the ability of D-Asp to act as an endogenous agonist on NMDARs and considering the abundance of D-Asp during prenatal and early life, future studies will be crucial to address the effect of this molecule in the developmental processes of the brain controlled by the activation of NMDARs.
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Castro-Chavez F. Defragged Binary I Ching Genetic Code Chromosomes Compared to Nirenberg's and Transformed into Rotating 2D Circles and Squares and into a 3D 100% Symmetrical Tetrahedron Coupled to a Functional One to Discern Start From Non-Start Methionines through a Stella Octangula. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 2012. [PMID: 23431415 DOI: 10.7243/2050-2273-1-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Three binary representations of the genetic code according to the ancient I Ching of Fu-Xi will be presented, depending on their defragging capabilities by pairing based on three biochemical properties of the nucleic acids: H-bonds, Purine/Pyrimidine rings, and the Keto-enol/Amino-imino tautomerism, yielding the last pair a 32/32 single-strand self-annealed genetic code and I Ching tables. METHODS: Our working tool is the ancient binary I Ching's resulting genetic code chromosomes defragged by vertical and by horizontal pairing, reverse engineered into non-binaries of 2D rotating 4×4×4 circles and 8×8 squares and into one 3D 100% symmetrical 16×4 tetrahedron coupled to a functional tetrahedron with apical signaling and central hydrophobicity (codon formula: 4[1(1)+1(3)+1(4)+4(2)]; 5:5, 6:6 in man) forming a stella octangula, and compared to Nirenberg's 16×4 codon table (1965) pairing the first two nucleotides of the 64 codons in axis y. RESULTS: One horizontal and one vertical defragging had the start Met at the center. Two, both horizontal and vertical pairings produced two pairs of 2×8×4 genetic code chromosomes naturally arranged (M and I), rearranged by semi-introversion of central purines or pyrimidines (M' and I') and by clustering hydrophobic amino acids; their quasi-identity was disrupted by amino acids with odd codons (Met and Tyr pairing to Ile and TGA Stop); in all instances, the 64-grid 90° rotational ability was restored. CONCLUSIONS: We defragged three I Ching representations of the genetic code while emphasizing Nirenberg's historical finding. The synthetic genetic code chromosomes obtained reflect the protective strategy of enzymes with a similar function, having both humans and mammals a biased G-C dominance of three H-bonds in the third nucleotide of their most used codons per amino acid, as seen in one chromosome of the i, M and M' genetic codes, while a two H-bond A-T dominance was found in their complementary chromosome, as seen in invertebrates and plants. The reverse engineering of chromosome I' into 2D rotating circles and squares was undertaken, yielding a 100% symmetrical 3D geometry which was coupled to a previously obtained genetic code tetrahedron in order to differentiate the start methionine from the methionine that is acting as a codifying non-start codon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Castro-Chavez
- Department of Medicine, Atherosclerosis and Vascular Medicine Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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