title: The interaction of beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine with bicarbonate: an 1H-NMR study.
abstract: The mode of action of the neurotoxic, non-protein amino acid beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (L-BMAA) is unknown. We have shown, using 1H-NMR spectroscopy, that L-BMAA forms a stable adduct with bicarbonate (probably a carbamate). The properties of this adduct may explain the observation that L-BMAA and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid appear to act at the same central nervous system receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, King's College London, England.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Nunn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D001639:Bicarbonates; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016202:N-Methylaspartate
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D001639:Bicarbonates; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; C001824:beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate