title: Complexes of zinc, copper, and nickel with the nonprotein amino acid L-alpha-amino-beta-methylaminopropionic acid: a naturally occurring neurotoxin.
abstract: The non-protein amino acid L-alpha-amino-beta-methylaminopropionic acid (L-MeDAP) causes motor neuron dysfunction in macaques. The amino acid is a potent chelator of divalent metal ions such as copper and zinc. Binding constants nickel(II) for copper(II) and zinc(II) with L-MeDAP have been measured. Some copper(II) complexes of L-MeDAP have been synthesized and characterized by their electronic, infrared, and epr spectra. These results are used to comment on the possibility that metal ion complexation in the central nervous system is involved in the expression of the meurotoxicity of L-MeDAP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, King's College, University of London, UK.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Nunn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Pyburn
mesh_terms: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012996:Solutions; C062118:methylaminoalanine-nickel(II); C062116:methylaminoalanine-copper(II); C062119:methylaminoalanine-zinc(II)