title: D-Amino acids in brain neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity.
abstract: Far from our initial view of D-amino acids as being limited to invertebrates, they are now considered active molecules at synapses of mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems, capable of modulating synaptic communication within neuronal networks. In particular, experimental data accumulated in the last few decades show that through the regulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission, D-serine influences the functional plasticity of cerebral circuitry throughout life. In addition, the modulation of NMDA-R-dependent signalling by D-aspartate has been demonstrated by pharmacological studies and after the targeted deletion of the D-aspartate-degrading enzyme. Considering the major contribution of the glutamatergic system to a wide range of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an improved understanding of the mechanisms of D-amino-acid-dependent neuromodulation will certainly offer new insights for the development of relevant strategies to treat these neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 894, 75014 Paris, France. jean-marie.billard@inserm.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Billard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003605:D-Amino-Acid Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D026603:D-Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D000099300:Serine Racemase
chemical_list: D003605:D-Amino-Acid Oxidase; D026603:D-Aspartic Acid; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D012694:Serine; D000099300:Serine Racemase; C417983:DAO protein, human