Occurrence and neuroendocrine role of D‐aspartic acid and N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid in Ciona intestinalis

FEBS Letters

De Simone, Antonietta⁵  Aniello, Francesco¹  Fisher, George H⁴  Spinelli, Patrizia⁵  Rastogi, Rakesh K²  D'Aniello, Salvatore⁵  D'Aniello, Antimo⁵  Di Fiore, Maria M³  Branno, Margherita¹ 

[1] Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Stazione Zoologica ‘A. Dohrn’, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy;Department of Zoology, University of Naples Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy;Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, 81100 Caserta, Italy;Department of Chemistry, Barry University, Miami Shores, FL, 33161, USA;Laboratory of Neurobiology, Stazione Zoologica ‘A. Dohrn’, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy

关键词: D-Aspartic acid;    N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid;    Gonadotropin-releasing hormone;    Protochordate;    Evolution;    Reproduction;    Testosterone;    Progesterone;    Ciona intestinalis;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(03)00921-9

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

Probes for the occurrence of endogenous D-aspartic acid (D-Asp) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) in the neural complex and gonads of a protochordate, the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, have confirmed the presence of these two excitatory amino acids and their involvement in hormonal activity. A hormonal pathway similar to that which occurs in vertebrates has been discovered. In the cerebral ganglion D-Asp is synthesized from L-Asp by an aspartate racemase. Then, D-Asp is transferred through the blood stream into the neural gland where it gives rise to NMDA by means of an NMDA synthase. NMDA, in turn, passes from the neuronal gland into the gonads where it induces the synthesis and release of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The GnRH in turn modulates the release and synthesis of testosterone and progesterone in the gonads, which are implicated in reproduction.

【 授权许可】

Unknown