Work

Synthesis, accumulation, and release of d ‐aspartate in the Aplysia californica CNS

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: d-Aspartate (d-Asp) is an endogenous molecule that is often detected in CNS and endocrine tissues. Using capillary electrophoresis and a variety of radionuclide detection techniques, we examine the synthesis, release, and uptake/accumulation of d-Asp in the CNS of the marine mollusk Aplysia californica. We observe the preferential synthesis and accumulation of d-Asp over l-aspartate (l-Asp) in neuron-containing ganglia compared to surrounding sheath tissues. Little conversion of d-Asp to l-Asp is detected. The Ca(2+) ionophore ionomycin and elevated extracellular potassium stimulates release of d-Asp from the cerebral ganglia. Lastly, radioactive d-Asp in the extracellular media is efficiently taken up and accumulated by individual F-cluster neurons. These observations point to a role for d-Asp in cell-to-cell signaling with many characteristics similar to classical transmitters.

Source: Journal of Neurochemistry

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.07020.x

Authors: Cory Scanlan, Ting Shi, Nathan G. Hatcher, Stanislav S. Rubakhin, Jonathan V. Sweedler

Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Language: English

Topic: Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Awards: Isomerization in cell-to-cell signaling peptides: from discovery to function, Neurometabolomics and Neuroproteomics Center on Cell-Cell Signaling