title: β-N-methylamino-L-alanine induces neurological deficits and shortened life span in Drosophila.
abstract: The neurotoxic non-protein amino acid, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), was first associated with the high incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex (ALS/PDC) in Guam. Recently, BMAA has been implicated as a fierce environmental factor that contributes to the etiology of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, in addition to ALS. However, the toxicity of BMAA in vivo has not been clearly demonstrated. Here we report our investigation of the neurotoxicity of BMAA in Drosophila. We found that dietary intake of BMAA reduced life span, locomotor functions, and learning and memory abilities in flies. The severity of the alterations in phenotype is correlated with the concentration of BMAA detected in flies. Interestingly, developmental exposure to BMAA had limited impact on survival rate, but reduced fertility in females, and caused delayed neurological impairment in aged adults. Our studies indicate that BMAA exposure causes chronic neurotoxicity, and that Drosophila serves as a useful model in dissecting the pathogenesis of ALS/PDC.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA. zhouxchong@gmail.com
authors: Xianchong
authors: X
authors: Zhou
authors: Wilfredo
authors: W
authors: Escala
authors: Spyridon
authors: S
authors: Papapetropoulos
authors: R Grace
authors: RG
authors: Zhai
mesh_terms: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001822:Body Burden; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; C001824:beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine