title: Cellular and subcellular distribution of D-aspartate oxidase in human and rat brain.
abstract: The unusual amino acid D-aspartate is present in significant amounts in brain and endocrine glands and is supposed to be involved in neurotransmission and neurosecretion (Wolosker et al. [2000] Neuroscience 100:183-189). D-aspartate oxidase is the only enzyme known to metabolize D-aspartate and could regulate its level in different regions of the brain. We examined the cellular and subcellular distribution of this enzyme and its mRNA in human and rat brain by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and immunoelectron microscopy. D-aspartate oxidase protein and mRNA are ubiquitous. The protein shows a granular pattern, particularly within neurons and to a significantly lesser extent in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. No evidence for a synaptic association was observed. Whereas between most positive neurons only gradual differences were observed, in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, neurons with high enzyme content were found next to others with no labeling. cDNA cloning of D-aspartate oxidase corroborates an inherent targeting signal sequence for protein import into peroxisomes. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the protein is localized in single membrane-bound organelles, apparently peroxisomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology II, Division of Medical Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, D-69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Kurt.Zaar@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zaar
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Köst
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schad
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Völkl
authors.forename: Eveline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baumgart
authors.forename: H Dariush
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Fahimi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002417:Cattle; D050804:D-Aspartate Oxidase; D026603:D-Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015388:Organelles / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020675:Peroxisomes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D026603:D-Aspartic Acid; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D050804:D-Aspartate Oxidase; C494102:DDO protein, human