Localization of D-β-Aspartyl Residue-Containing Proteins in Various Tissues

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Ryota Motoie¹  Noriko Fujii¹  Shigeru Tsunoda³  Kenji Nagata¹  Tadashi Shimo-oka²  Tadatoshi Kinouchi¹  Norihiko Fujii¹  Takeshi Saito¹ 

[1] Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Kumatori, Sennan, Osaka 590-0494, Japan; E-Mails:;Life Science Center, Asahi Techno Glass Corp, Funabashi, Chiba 273-0044, Japan; E-Mail:;Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan; E-Mail:

关键词: d-β-Aspartyl residue;    racemization;    immunohistochemistry;    isomerization;    stomach;    heart;    lung;    oxidative stress;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms10051999

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Prior to the emergence of life, it is believed that only l-amino acids were selected for formation of protein and that d-amino acids were eliminated on the primitive Earth. Whilst homochirality is essential for life, the occurrence of proteins containing d-β-aspartyl (Asp) residues in various tissues from elderly subjects has been reported recently. Here, we demonstrate the presence of a d-β-Asp-containing protein in the cardiac muscle of heart, blood vessels of the lung, chief cells of the stomach, longitudinal and circular muscle of the stomach, small intestine and large intestine. Since the d-β-Asp residue occurs through a succinimide intermediate, this isomer may potentially be generated in proteins more easily than initially thought. Formation of the d-β-Asp residue in proteins may be related to stress.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2009 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.