Free D-aspartic acid and NMDA are present in the mammalian central nervous system and endocrine glands at significant concentrations, but their physiological role is still matter of debate. The only enzyme known to metabolize in vitro selectively these D-amino acids is D-aspartate oxidase (DDO). To clarify the role in vivo of the enzyme, we generated mice with targeted deletion of Ddo gene by homologous recombination. Mutated animals showed increased amounts of both D-aspartic acid and NMDA in all tissues examined demonstrating a physiological role of DDO in the regulation of their endogenous levels.
A physiological mechanism to regulate D-aspartic acid and NMDA levels in mammals revealed by D-aspartate oxidase deficient mice / Errico, Francesco; Pirro, Mt; Affuso, A; Spinelli, P; DE FELICE, Mario; D'Aniello, A; DI LAURO, Roberto. - In: GENE. - ISSN 0378-1119. - 374:(2006), pp. 50-57. [10.1016/j.gene.2006.01.010]
A physiological mechanism to regulate D-aspartic acid and NMDA levels in mammals revealed by D-aspartate oxidase deficient mice.
ERRICO, FRANCESCO;DE FELICE, MARIO;DI LAURO, ROBERTO
2006
Abstract
Free D-aspartic acid and NMDA are present in the mammalian central nervous system and endocrine glands at significant concentrations, but their physiological role is still matter of debate. The only enzyme known to metabolize in vitro selectively these D-amino acids is D-aspartate oxidase (DDO). To clarify the role in vivo of the enzyme, we generated mice with targeted deletion of Ddo gene by homologous recombination. Mutated animals showed increased amounts of both D-aspartic acid and NMDA in all tissues examined demonstrating a physiological role of DDO in the regulation of their endogenous levels.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
