D-aspartate disposition in neuronal and endocrine tissues: ontogeny, biosynthesis and release.
High levels of D-aspartate occur in the brain and endocrine glands, such as pineal, adrenal and pituitary. In the brain, D-aspartate levels are highest in embryonic and early postnatal stages. Notably high levels occur in the early postnatal cortical plate and subventricular zone of the cerebral cortical cultures, implying a role in development. In embryonic neuronal primary culture cells, we detected high levels of endogenous D-aspartate and demonstrated biosynthesis of [14C]D-aspartate using [14C]L-aspartate as precursor. Synthesis of D-aspartate in cell cultures is inhibited by amino-oxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes. In the rat adrenal medulla, D-aspartate is depleted by treatment of the animals with intraperitoneal nicotine injections. In adrenal slices, D-aspartate is released by depolarization with KCl or acetylcholine, implying physiological release by activation of the cholinergic innervation of the adrenal. Our characterization of D-aspartate ontogeny, biosynthesis and depolarization-induced release implies specific physiological roles for this amino acid.
Wolosker
H
H
Departamento de Bioquimica, ICB/CCS, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
D'Aniello
A
A
Snyder
S H
SH
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000625:Aminooxyacetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000625:Aminooxyacetic Acid; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D009538:Nicotine; D000109:Acetylcholine