The discovery of BMAA, and examples of biomagnification and protein incorporation involving other non-protein amino acids.
Because of the similarity of ALS/PDC symptoms to those of the paralytic disease lathyrism, cycad seeds from Guam were analyzed for the presence of the non-protein amino acid b-ODAP, which is known to cause lathyrism. Although b-ODAP was not detected, a novel non-protein amino acid, now known as BMAA, was isolated. Primates are more sensitive to BMAA than rodents. It is possible that BMAA when ingested at a low concentration over a long period might be responsible for ALS/PDC. Some non-protein amino acids, including domoic acid and indospicine, are known to be biomagnified. Other non-protein amino acids including azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, canavanine, and selenium containing analogues of cystine and methionine have been shown to be misincorporated into proteins. Perhaps BMAA will not be the only non-protein amino acid that will be found in the brain tissues of those who died of a neurological disease.
Bell
E Arthur
EA
Henriette Raphael Building, School of Biomedical Sciences, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000600:Amino Acids, Dicarboxylic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007842:Lathyrism; D027807:Lathyrus / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
D000596:Amino Acids; D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D000600:Amino Acids, Dicarboxylic; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D011506:Proteins; C064612:alpha-N-carboxy-beta-N-methylaminoalanine