Stereospecific acute neuronotoxicity of 'uncommon' plant amino acids linked to human motor-system diseases

Peter B. Nunn; Mary Seelig; Joy C. Zagoren; Peter S. Spencer

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(87)90342-8

Stereospecific acute neuronotoxicity of 'uncommon' plant amino acids linked to human motor-system diseases

Peter B. Nunn, Mary Seelig, Joy C. Zagoren, Peter S. Spencer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

The l-isomer of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), present in free form in seed of Cycas circinalis, elicits in spinal cord cultures a pattern of acute postsynaptic neuronal vacuolation comparable to that induced by β-N-oxalylamino-l-alanine (BOAA), an excitotoxic amino acid of greater potency isolated from seed of Lathyrus sativus. The neuronotoxic properties of these compounds may be linked to the etiology of motor-system degenerative disorders (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and lathyrism, respectively) found in human groups that have used these plant seeds for food.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	375-379
Number of pages	5
Journal	Brain research
Volume	410
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(87)90342-8
State	Published - May 5 1987
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Cycas
Excitotoxin
Lathyrus
β-N-Oxalylamino-l-alanine (BOAA)
β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neuroscience(all)
Molecular Biology
Clinical Neurology
Developmental Biology

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10.1016/0006-8993(87)90342-8

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@article{9f95421efeb24adeaa50664f3f4a2dd1,

title = "Stereospecific acute neuronotoxicity of 'uncommon' plant amino acids linked to human motor-system diseases",

abstract = "The l-isomer of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), present in free form in seed of Cycas circinalis, elicits in spinal cord cultures a pattern of acute postsynaptic neuronal vacuolation comparable to that induced by β-N-oxalylamino-l-alanine (BOAA), an excitotoxic amino acid of greater potency isolated from seed of Lathyrus sativus. The neuronotoxic properties of these compounds may be linked to the etiology of motor-system degenerative disorders (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and lathyrism, respectively) found in human groups that have used these plant seeds for food.",

keywords = "Cycas, Excitotoxin, Lathyrus, β-N-Oxalylamino-l-alanine (BOAA), β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA)",

author = "Nunn, {Peter B.} and Mary Seelig and Zagoren, {Joy C.} and Spencer, {Peter S.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank R. Robertson and L. Baboukis for technical assistance, and M. Bischoff-Fenton for manuscript assistance. These studies were supported by N.I.H. Grant NS 19611, and grants from the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (U.K.).",

year = "1987",

month = may,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1016/0006-8993(87)90342-8",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "410",

pages = "375--379",

journal = "Brain Research",

issn = "0006-8993",

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T1 - Stereospecific acute neuronotoxicity of 'uncommon' plant amino acids linked to human motor-system diseases

AU - Nunn, Peter B.

AU - Seelig, Mary

AU - Zagoren, Joy C.

AU - Spencer, Peter S.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank R. Robertson and L. Baboukis for technical assistance, and M. Bischoff-Fenton for manuscript assistance. These studies were supported by N.I.H. Grant NS 19611, and grants from the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (U.K.).

PY - 1987/5/5

Y1 - 1987/5/5

N2 - The l-isomer of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), present in free form in seed of Cycas circinalis, elicits in spinal cord cultures a pattern of acute postsynaptic neuronal vacuolation comparable to that induced by β-N-oxalylamino-l-alanine (BOAA), an excitotoxic amino acid of greater potency isolated from seed of Lathyrus sativus. The neuronotoxic properties of these compounds may be linked to the etiology of motor-system degenerative disorders (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and lathyrism, respectively) found in human groups that have used these plant seeds for food.

AB - The l-isomer of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), present in free form in seed of Cycas circinalis, elicits in spinal cord cultures a pattern of acute postsynaptic neuronal vacuolation comparable to that induced by β-N-oxalylamino-l-alanine (BOAA), an excitotoxic amino acid of greater potency isolated from seed of Lathyrus sativus. The neuronotoxic properties of these compounds may be linked to the etiology of motor-system degenerative disorders (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and lathyrism, respectively) found in human groups that have used these plant seeds for food.

KW - Cycas

KW - Excitotoxin

KW - Lathyrus

KW - β-N-Oxalylamino-l-alanine (BOAA)

KW - β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA)

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JO - Brain Research

JF - Brain Research

IS - 2

ER -

Stereospecific acute neuronotoxicity of 'uncommon' plant amino acids linked to human motor-system diseases

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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