Delta-aminovaleric Acid Research Articles

The Chemistry of Escapin: Identification and Quantification of the Components in the Complex Mixture Generated by an L‐Amino Acid Oxidase in the Defensive Secretion of the Sea Snail Aplysia californica

Escapin is an L-amino acid oxidase in the ink of a marine snail, the sea hare Aplysia californica, which oxidizes L-lysine (1) to produce a mixture of chemicals which is antipredatory and antimicrobial. The goal of our study was to determine the identity and relative abundance of the constituents of this mixture, using molecules generated enzymatically with escapin and also using products of organic syntheses. We examined this mixture under the natural range of pH values for ink-from approximately 5 at full strength to approximately 8 when fully diluted in sea water. The enzymatic reaction likely forms an equilibrium mixture containing the linear form alpha-keto-epsilon-aminocaproic acid (2), the cyclic imine Delta(1)-piperidine-2-carboxylic acid (3), the cyclic enamine Delta(2)-piperidine-2-carboxylic acid (4), possibly the linear enol 6-amino-2-hydroxy-hex-2-enoic acid (7), the alpha-dihydroxy acid 6-amino-2,2-dihydroxy-hexanoic acid (8), and the cyclic aminol 2-hydroxy-piperidine-2-carboxylic acid (9). Using NMR and mass spectroscopy, we show that 3 is the major component of this enzymatic product at any pH, but at more basic conditions, the equilibrium shifts to produce relatively more 4, and at acidic conditions, the equilibrium shifts to produce relatively more 2, 7, and/or 9. Studies of escapin's enzyme kinetics demonstrate that because of the high concentrations of escapin and L-lysine in the ink secretion, millimolar concentrations of 3, H(2)O(2), and ammonia are produced, and also lower concentrations of 2, 4, 7, and 9 as a result. We also show that reactions of this mixture with H(2)O(2) produce delta-aminovaleric acid (5) and delta-valerolactam (6), with 6 being the dominant component under the naturally acidic conditions of ink. Thus, the product of escapin's action on L-lysine contains an equilibrium mixture that is more complex than previously known for any L-amino acid oxidase.

Identification of potent bactericidal compounds produced by escapin, an L-amino acid oxidase in the ink of the sea hare Aplysia californica.

The ink of sea hares (Aplysia californica) contains escapin, an L-amino acid oxidase that metabolizes L-lysine, thereby producing a mixture that kills microbes and deters attacking predators. This secretion contains H2O2,ammonia, and an equilibrium mixture of "escapin intermediate product" (EIP-K) that includes alpha-keto-epsilon-aminocaproic acid and several other molecules. Components of the equilibrium mixture react nonenzymatically with H2O2 to form "escapin end product" (EEP-K), which contains delta-aminovaleric acid and delta-valerolactam. The proportions of the molecules in this equilibrium mixture change with pH, and this is biologically important because the secretion is pH 5 when released but becomes pH 8 when fully diluted in seawater. The goal of the current study was to identify which molecules in this equilibrium mixture are bactericidal. We show that a mixture of H2O2 and EIP-K, but not EEP-K, at low mM concentrations is synergistically responsible for most of the bactericidal activity of the secretion against Escherichia coli, Vibrio harveyi, Staphylococcus aureus,and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Low pH enhances the bactericidal effect, and this does not result from stress associated with low pH itself. Sequential exposure to low mM concentrations of EIP-K and H2O2, in either order, does not kill E. coli. Reaction products formed when L-arginine is substituted for L-lysine have almost no bactericidal activity. Our results favor the idea that the bactericidal activity is due to unstable intermediates of the reaction of alpha-keto-epsilon-aminocaproic acid with H2O2.

Hybrid peptide hairpins containing alpha- and omega-amino acids: conformational analysis of decapeptides with unsubstituted beta-, gamma-, and delta-residues at positions 3 and 8.

The effects of inserting unsubstituted omega-amino acids into the strand segments of model beta-hairpin peptides was investigated by using four synthetic decapeptides, Boc-Leu-Val-Xxx-Val-D-Pro-Gly-Leu-Xxx-Val-Val-OMe: peptide 1 (Xxx=Gly), peptide 2 (Xxx=betaGly=betahGly=homoglycine, beta-glycine), peptide 3 (Xxx=gammaAbu=gamma-aminobutyric acid), peptide 4 (Xxx=deltaAva=delta-aminovaleric acid). 1H NMR studies (500 MHz, methanol) reveal several critical cross-strand NOEs, providing evidence for beta-hairpin conformations in peptides 2-4. In peptide 3, the NMR results support the formation of the nucleating turn, however, evidence for cross-strand registry is not detected. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of peptide 3 reveal a beta-hairpin conformation for both molecules in the crystallographic asymmetric unit, stabilized by four cross-strand hydrogen bonds, with the gammaAbu residues accommodated within the strands. The D-Pro-Gly segment in both molecules (A,B) adopts a type II' beta-turn conformation. The circular dichroism spectrum for peptide 3 is characterized by a negative CD band at 229 nm, whereas for peptides 2 and 4, the negative band is centered at 225 nm, suggesting a correlation between the orientation of the amide units in the strand segments and the observed CD pattern.

Structural studies of model peptides containing β-, γ- and δ-amino acids

The crystal structures of five model peptides Piv-Pro-Gly-NHMe (1), Piv-Pro-betaGly-NHMe (2), Piv-Pro-betaGly-OMe (3), Piv-Pro-deltaAva-OMe (4) and Boc-Pro-gammaAbu-OH (5) are described (Piv: pivaloyl; NHMe: N-methylamide; betaGly: beta-glycine; OMe: O-methyl ester; deltaAva: delta-aminovaleric acid; gammaAbu: gamma-aminobutyric acid). A comparison of the structures of peptides 1 and 2 illustrates the dramatic consequences upon backbone homologation in short sequences. 1 adopts a type II beta-turn conformation in the solid state, while in 2, the molecule adopts an open conformation with the beta-residue being fully extended. Piv-Pro-betaGly-OMe (3), which differs from 2 by replacement of the C-terminal NH group by an O-atom, adopts an almost identical molecular conformation and packing arrangement in the solid state. In peptide 4, the observed conformation resembles that determined for 2 and 3, with the deltaAva residue being fully extended. In peptide 5, the molecule undergoes a chain reversal, revealing a beta-turn mimetic structure stabilized by a C-H...O hydrogen bond.

The Ligand-induced Structural Changes of Humanl-Arginine:Glycine Amidinotransferase: A MUTATIONAL AND CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC STUDY

Human L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AT) shows large structural changes of the 300-flap and of helix H9 upon binding of L-arginine and L-ornithine, described as a closed and an open conformation (Humm, A., Fritsche, E., Steinbacher, S., and Huber, R. (1997) EMBO J. 16, 3373-3385). To elucidate the structural basis of these induced-fit movements, the x-ray structures of AT in complex with the amidino acceptor glycine and its analogs gamma-aminobutyric acid and delta-aminovaleric acid, as well as in complex with the amidino donor analogs L-alanine, L-alpha-aminobutyric acid, and L-norvaline, have been solved at 2.6-, 2.5-, 2.37-, 2.3-, 2.5-, and 2.4-A resolutions, respectively. The latter three compounds were found to stabilize the open conformer. The glycine analogs bind in a distinct manner and do not induce the transition to the open state. The complex with glycine revealed a third binding mode, reflecting the rather broad substrate specificity of AT. These findings identified a role for the alpha-amino group of the ligand in stabilizing the open conformer. The kinetic, structural, and thermodynamic properties of the mutants ATDeltaM302 and ATDelta11 (lacks 11 residues of H9) confirmed the key role of Asn300 and suggest that in mammalian amidinotransferases, the role of helix H9 is in accelerating amidino transfer by an induced-fit mechanism. Helix H9 does not add to the stability of the protein.

Are the Reductions in Nematode Attack on Plants Treated with Seaweed Extracts the Result of Stimulation of the Formaldehyde Cycle?

Soil application to the roots of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) of a commercially-available alkaline extract of the brown alga, Ascophyllum nodosum, resulted in a significant reduction in the number of second-stage juveniles of both Meloidogynejavanica and M. incognita invading the roots, compared to those of plants treated with water alone. Egg recovery from the seaweed extract treated plants was also significantly lower. The three major betaines found in the seaweed extract (gamma-aminobutyric acid betaine, delta-aminovaleric acid betaine and glycinebetaine) also led to significant reductions in both the nematode invasion profile and egg recovery when applied at concentrations equivalent to those present in the extract. This led to the conclusion that the betaines present in the seaweed extract play a major role in bringing about the observed effects. Treatment of Arabidopsis thaliana plants with seaweed extract also resulted in a significant decrease in the number of females of M. javanica which developed in the roots. Significant reductions in egg recovery were also achieved from plants treated with the seaweed extract and similar effects were produced with the betaines found in the seaweed extract. As the experiments were conducted under monoxenic conditions, it can be concluded that the results obtained with the application of either the seaweed extract or betaines are not dependent on microorganisms associated with the rhizosphere.

Isolation and identification of seven metabolites of a water-soluble platelet aggregation inhibitor in rat urine.

1. Seven metabolites of 7-piperidino-1,2,3,4,5-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1- b]quinazolin-2-one dihydrochloride monohydrate (DN-9693) were isolated from rat urine by extraction with Amberlite XAD-2 and purification by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 open-column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (hplc). The structure assignment of the metabolites was performed by field desorption mass spectrometry and 200-MHz Fourier transform nmr spectroscopic analysis and comparison with authentic standards when available. 2. DN-9693 underwent metabolism mainly at the piperidine ring to give the 4-hydroxypiperidine derivative (III) and 2-hydroxy-piperidine derivative, which is further metabolized to lactam (II) or delta-aminovaleric acid (V). The acyl side chain of V was shortened by beta-oxidation to form the 3-aminopropionic acid derivative (VII). V and/or VII underwent oxidative dealkylation to give the 7-amino derivative, which was conjugated with acetic acid to form the 7-acetylamino derivative (IV). DN-9693 also underwent hydrolysis of its lactam moiety to give VI. 3. The urinary excretion of III, V and VII was determined by liquid chromatography/electrochemistry (LC/EC) and V proved to be the major metabolite in rat urine. 4. A procedure is also presented for the identification of DN-9693 metabolites using LC/EC.

Reactions of C‐terminal ω‐amino acid residues in liquid hydrogen fluoride

The benzyl-ester bond linking the C-terminal delta-aminovaleric acid residue of a peptide to a polymeric support was cleaved with liquid hydrogen fluoride in the presence of anisole, added as scavenger. Instead of the expected peptide with a free carboxyl group at the C-terminus, a peptide terminating in a ketone derivative was obtained. The unusual extent of this known side-reaction was attributed to the effect of the distance between the amino group and the carboxyl group in the C-terminal residue. The results of model experiments corroborated this view.

Analysis of gamma-aminobutyric acidB receptor function in the in vitro and in vivo regulation of alpha-melanotropin-stimulating hormone secretion from melanotrope cells of Xenopus laevis.

The activity of many endocrine cells is regulated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The effects of GABA are mediated by GABAA and/or GABAB receptors. While GABAB receptors in the central nervous system have now been extensively characterized, little is known of the function and pharmacology of GABAB receptors on endocrine cells. In the amphibian Xenopus laevis, GABA inhibits the release of alpha MSH from the endocrine melanotrope cells through both GABAA and GABAB receptors. We have investigated the following aspects of the GABAB receptor of the melanotrope cells of X. laevis: 1) the pharmacology of this receptor, using antagonists previously established to demonstrate GABAB receptors in the mammalian central nervous system; 2) the relative contribution to the regulation of hormone secretion by the GABAA and GABAB receptors on melanotrope cells in vitro; and 3) the role of the GABAB receptor with respect to the physiological function of the melanotrope cell in vivo, i.e. regulation of pigment dispersion in skin melanophores in relation to background color. Our results demonstrate that phaclofen, 2-hydroxysaclofen, and 4-aminobutylphosphonic acid dose-dependently blocked the inhibition of alpha MSH release by GABAB receptor activation, but not by GABAA receptor activation. The GABAB receptor antagonist delta-aminovaleric acid appeared to be a selective agonist on the GABAB receptor of melanotrope cells. The inhibitory secretory response to a low dose of GABA (10(-5) M) was not affected by bicuculline, but was significantly reduced by phaclofen, indicating that at a low GABA concentration, the GABAB receptor mechanism would dominate in inhibiting the melanotrope cells. Different thresholds of activation may form the basis for differential action of GABA through both GABA receptor types. The tonic inhibition of alpha MSH release in animals adapted to a white background was not affected by 4-aminobutylphosphonic acid, indicating that the GABAB receptor is not (solely) involved in the in vivo inhibition of alpha MSH release in animals on a white background.

Inhibitory of gamma-aminobutyric acid on the contractility of isolated rat vas deferens

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in central nervous system and produce sedative, antianxiety and muscle reaxing effects via receptor or receptor. Recently it is known that GABA is widely distributed throughout peripheral organs and may playa physiological role in certain organ. The vas deferens is innervated by species-difference. These study, therefore, was performed to investigate the mode and the mechanism of action of GABA on the norepiniphrine-, ATP- and electric stimulation-induced contraction of vas deferens of rat. Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The smooth muscle strips were isolated from the prostastic portion and were mounted in the isolated muscle bath. PSS in the bath was aerated with 95/5%- at . Muscle tensions were measured by isometric tension transducer and were recorded by biological recording system. 1. GABA, muscimol, a agonist, and baclofen, a agonist inhibited the electric field stimulation(EFS, 0.2Hz, 1mSec, 80 V, monophasic square wave)-induced contraction with a rank order of potency of GABA greater than baclofen greater than muscimol. 2. The inhibitory effect of GABA was antagonized by delta aminovaleric acid(DAVA), a antagonist, but not by bicuculline, a mtagonist. 3. The inhibitory effect of baclofen was antagonized by DAVA, but the effect of muscimol was not antagonized by bicuculline. 4. Exogenous norepinephrine(NE) and ATP contracted muscle strip concentration dependently, but the effect of acetylcholine was negligible : and GABA did not affect the NE-and ATP-induced contractions. 5. GABA, baclofen and muscimol did not affect basal tone, and GABA did not affect the NE-and ATP-induced contractionsm 6. EFS-induced contraction was including 2 distinctable components. The first phasic component was inhibited by beta gamma-methylene ATP(mATP), a desensitizing agent of APT receptor and the second tonic component was reduced by pretreatment of reserpine(3 mg/Kg, IP). 7. GABA inhibited the EFS-induced contraction of reserpinized strips, but not the mATP-treated strips. These results suggest that in the prostatic portion of the rat vas deferens, adrenergic and purinergic neurotransmissions are exist, and GABA inhibits the release of ATP via presynaptic receptor on the excitatory neurons.

Effect of diazepam on the oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus

This study was designed to investigate the effect of diazepam on the spontaneous contraction and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus. Female rat(Sprague-Dawley) pretreated with oophorectomy and 4 days administration of estrogen, weighing about 200 g, was sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the uteruses were isolated. A longitudinal muscle strip was placed in temperature controlled() muscle chamber containing Locke's solution and myographied isometrically. Diazepam inhibited the spontaneous contraction and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus in a concentration-dependent manner. GABA, muscimol, a GABA A receptor agonist, bicuculline, a competitive GAGA A receptor antagonist, picrotoxin, a non competitive GABA A receptor antagonist, baclofen, a GABA B receptor agonist, and delta-aminovaleric acid, a GABA B receptor antagonist, did not affect on the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus. The inhibitory actions of diazepam on the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction were not affected by all the GABA receptor agonists and antagonists, but exceptionally potentiated by bicuculline. This potentiation-effect by bicuculline was not antagonized by muscimol. In normal calcium PSS, addition of calcium restored the spontaneous contraction preinhibited by diazepam and recovered the contractile of oxytocin preinhibited by diazepam. A23187, a calcium inophore, enhanced the restoration of both the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction by addition of calcium. In calcium-free PSS, diazepam suppressed the restoration of spontaneous motility by addition of calcium but allowed the recovery of spontaneous motility to a considerable extent. Diazepam could not inhibit some development of contractility by oxytocin in calcium-free PSS, but inhibited the increase in contractility by subsequent addition of calcium. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of diazepam on the rat uterine motility does not depend on or related to GABA receptors and that diazepam inhibits the extracellular calcium influx to suppress the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contractilities.

Antagonism of GABAB-receptor-mediated responses in the guinea-pig isolated ileum and vas deferens by phosphono-analogues of GABA

1. The phosphono-analogues of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 4-amino-butylphosphonic acid (4-ABPA), 3-amino-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-propylphosphonic acid (phaclofen) and 3-amino-2-cyclohexylpropyl-phosphonic acid, each antagonized the GABA- and baclofen-induced GABAB-receptor-mediated depression of twitch responses to transmural stimulation in the guinea-pig isolated ileum, in a concentration-dependent, reversible and surmountable manner (apparent pA2 = 4.0 +/- 0.1, 4 +/- 0.2 and 3.7 +/- 0.2 respectively, compared with 3.9 +/- 0.1 for delta-aminovaleric acid). No such activity was found in a variety of related analogues. 2. By contrast, 3-amino-propylphosphonic acid (3-APPA) behaved as a partial agonist, itself partly depressing ileal twitch contractions in a manner sensitive to 4-ABPA and phaclofen, as well as antagonizing the depression of the ileal twitch by GABA and baclofen (apparent pA2 = 4.0 +/- 0.2). 3. Both 4-ABPA and phaclofen also antagonized the baclofen-induced depression of the twitch in the guinea-pig isolated vas deferens (apparent pA2 = 4.0 +/- 0.1 for each), whilst 3-APPA behaved as a partial agonist, slightly depressing the vas twitch, and antagonised the baclofen-induced depression of the twitch (apparent pA2 = 3.9 +/- 0.1). 4. None of these phosphono-analogues exhibited any action at ileal GABAA-receptors, nor influenced the ileal twitch depression with morphine, adenosine or noradrenaline, suggesting their selectivity as antagonists at GABAB-receptors.

Design of potential anticonvulsant agents: mechanistic classification of GABA aminotransferase inactivators.

Because of the importance of the inactivation of GABA aminotransferase to the design of anticonvulsant agents, a seemingly wide variety of inactivators has been investigated; all of the compounds, however, are analogues of GABA, beta-alanine, or delta-aminovaleric acid, which are substrates for the enzyme. Relatively minor modifications in the inactivator structures result in major differences in inactivation mechanisms and enzyme adduct structures. Compounds that inactivate GABA aminotransferase by a Michael addition mechanism, leading to modification of an active-site residue are Class I inactivators. Those that proceed by an enamine mechanism and give ternary adducts are Class II inactivators. Class III inactivators modify only the PLP cofactor; if the inactivation involves aromatization of the inactivator, it is a Class IIIA inactivation, and if no aromatization is involved, then it is a Class IIIB inactivation. The last class of inactivators (Class IV) are not classified on the basis of the mechanism, but, rather, that they require the enzyme to be in the PMP form. There appears to be no trend in partition ratio values when comparing Class I with Class II inactivators. Class III inactivations alter only the cofactor, so it may be possible for these adducts to diffuse slowly out of the active site; reactivation of the apoenzyme would require additional PLP. These inactivators also inactivate a variety of other PLP-dependent enzymes. At this point there does not seem to be a therapeutic advantage of one class of inactivators over another, although the only current example of these inactivators to be useful clinically is gamma-vinyl GABA (vigabatrin), a Class I inactivator recently approved for the drug market in France and the U.K. There is a mechanistic significance, however, for one class over another. If labeling of an active-site amino acid residue is desired, then Class I inactivators should be selected; desire for attachment of the inactivator to both the protein and the cofactor or just to the cofactor would determine whether Class II or Class III inactivators would be chosen. The classification presented here should allow us to think about inactivator structures in terms of their mechanistic potential and, as a result of this, should afford us the opportunity to be able to make predictions regarding inactivation mechanisms for hypothetical new structural classes of inactivators. Since the different mechanistic pathways lead to different types of enzyme adducts, inactivator design may be driven by the class of adduct that is desired.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of the putative antagonists phaclofen and δ‐aminovaleric acid on GABAB receptor biochemistry

1. Phaclofen and delta-aminovaleric acid (delta-AVA) have been reported to be antagonists at gamma-aminobutyric acidB (GABAB) receptors. Phaclofen, delta-AVA and related compounds were examined for potency and specificity at GABAB and GABAA receptors in rat cortical membranes labelled with [3H]-(-)-baclofen and [3H]-muscimol, respectively. Additionally phaclofen and delta-AVA were examined in two functional tests of central GABAB activity in rat cortical slices, namely the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation, and the potentiation of isoprenaline-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. 2. delta-AVA (IC50 = 11.7 microM) was 20 fold more potent than phaclofen (IC50 = 229 microM) on GABAB receptor binding. All compounds possessing a phosphonic acid group, including phaclofen, which were active at GABAB receptors were inactive at GABAA receptors, while delta-AVA was equally potent at both receptors. Several compounds exhibited Hill coefficients of less than unity in displacing [3H]-(-)-baclofen binding. 3. (-)-Baclofen inhibited forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation (IC50 = 7.9 microM) but this effect was not stereospecific. Phaclofen (1 mM) was inactive against this inhibition but produced a potentiation of the forskolin effect. delta-AVA (1 mM) failed to antagonize the effect of baclofen; rather it mimicked baclofen. 4. (-)-Baclofen (10 microM) potentiated isoprenaline-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation, an effect antagonized by phaclofen (1 mM). delta-AVA (1 mM) may be a weak antagonist but also potentiated basal cyclic AMP accumulation. 5. We conclude that neither delta-AVA nor phaclofen are potent specific GABAB receptor antagonists.

Influence of GABA and ethylenediamine in the guinea‐pig duodenum

1. GABA induced concentration-dependent transient contractions of the guinea-pig duodenum, but only occasionally evoked small relaxatory responses. The GABA-induced contractions were blocked by atropine and tetrodotoxin but were not influenced by hexamethonium; during electrically evoked twitch contractions, GABA had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect. 2. The concentration-response curve for the contractile effect of GABA was shifted to the right in a dose-dependent manner by bicuculline and picrotoxin, with a clear reduction of the maximal effect in the presence of picrotoxin. 3. Homotaurine and delta-aminovaleric acid but not baclofen mimicked the GABA-induced contractions; the responses induced by these GABAA receptor agonists were antagonized by atropine, tetrodotoxin and bicuculline. Baclofen concentration-dependently inhibited electrically evoked twitch contractions. 4. Ethylenediamine also had a GABA-like effect, and cross-desensitization developed between GABA and ethylenediamine. 5. The ethylenediamine-induced contractions were not antagonized by thiosemicarbazide; they were reduced by 3-mercaptopropionic acid but the GABA-induced contractions were reduced to the same extent. 6. It is concluded that GABA induces contraction of the guinea-pig duodenum by excitation of GABAA receptors on postganglionic cholinergic neurones; a GABAB receptor-mediated inhibitory effect can be observed during electrically evoked twitch contractions. Ethylenediamine mimicks the GABAA receptor-mediated effect probably by a direct effect on the GABAA receptors.

GABA-A-mediated gastrin release induced by baclofen in the isolated vascularly perfused rat stomach

In order to investigate the role of peripheral GABA-B receptors, the effects of the putative GABA-B agonist baclofen on immunoreactive gastrin release from an isolated vascularly perfused rat stomach preparation were examined. The vascular infusion of baclofen at graded concentrations induced a dose-dependent increase in gastrin release; this was unaffected by the GABA-B antagonist delta-aminovaleric acid, but was fully prevented by the selective GABA-A antagonist bicuculline as well as by atropine or tetrodotoxin. These results suggest that the stimulant effects of baclofen are mediated by nervous cholinergic structures associated with GABA-A receptors, and indicate that this GABA-B agonist must be regarded as a partial agonist of peripheral GABA-A receptors.

GABA regulation of circadian responses to light. I. Involvement of GABAA-benzodiazepine and GABAB receptors

Light-induced phase shifts of the circadian locomotor rhythm of hamsters can be blocked by agents that alter GABA neurotransmission. The GABA antagonist bicuculline blocks phase delays induced by light and the benzodiazepine diazepam, which can potentiate GABA activity, blocks light-induced phase advances. In the experiments reported here, we found that the bicuculline blockade of phase delays was reduced by agents that mimic or potentiate GABA activity. Conversely, the diazepam blockade of phase advances was reduced by both competitive and noncompetitive antagonists of GABA. This indicates that the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor-ionophore complex is the most likely site of action for the effects of these drugs on circadian rhythms. However, competitive GABA agonists did not mimic the blocking effects of benzodiazepines, nor did the antagonist picrotoxin mimic the blocking effect of bicuculline. Therefore, the classic action of GABA, increased chloride conductance, may not be the effector mechanism in this case. We also found that the GABAB agonist baclofen blocked both phase advances and delays and that the blockade of advances was reversed by the antagonist delta-aminovaleric acid. Taken together, these results indicate that GABA is involved in the regulation of circadian responses to light and that the regulation is mediated by both GABAA and GABAB receptors.

Human dental plaque pH, and the organic acid and free amino acid profiles in plaque fluid, after sucrose rinsing

The relationship between these factors was studied in plaque and plaque fluid samples taken at intervals during the Stephan pH curve following a sucrose mouth rinse. Levels of lactate rose after the rinse, then fell during the pH recovery phase. Levels of acetate, propionate and phosphate fell after rinsing, then rose again. Amino acid concentrations also changed, with many showing a fall followed by a rise; others rising then falling; and some showing a more variable or complex pattern. In resting plaque fluid, only alanine, proline, glutamic acid, glycine and ammonia were present at concentrations above 1 mmol/l. Delta-aminovaleric acid was detected at levels below those that have been found in monkeys. Hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine were consistently detected, levels of arginine were generally low, and those of cystine consistently very low. The results may provide a basis for understanding the complex metabolic interrelations that occur in the course of the Stephan curve and which may reflect or produce the observed pH changes. They suggest that besides the amount of acid produced, the type of acid, buffering power and base production should be considered as determinants of plaque pH.

Delta-aminovaleric acid antagonizes the pharmacological actions of baclofen in the central nervous system.

The action of delta-aminovaleric acid (AVA) on the muscle relaxant properties of baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, was investigated in two experimental models: (1) the pathologically increased muscle tone of the gastrocnemius muscle in spastic mutant Han-Wistar rats and (2) the Hoffmann (H)-reflex recorded from plantar foot muscles after electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in barbiturate (60 mg/kg) anaesthetized rats. In both paradigms coadministration of AVA (500 nmol/5 microliter) antagonized the muscle relaxant action of intrathecally applied baclofen (0.2-2 nmol), but failed to affect the muscle relaxant effects of intrathecally injected muscimol (2-20 nmol). In contrast, coadministration of bicuculline (1 nmol) did block the muscle relaxant action of muscimol, but failed to alter the effects of baclofen. When administered alone, bicuculline (1 nmol), or AVA (500 nmol-2 mumol) were without intrinsic action in both paradigms. In an additional series of experiments we investigated the action of AVA on a supraspinal effect of baclofen. Coadministration of AVA (12.5 nmol/0.5 microliter) in the ventromedial thalamic nucleus antagonized the catalepsy induced by baclofen (ED50 10 pmol/0.5 microliter), as indicated by an increase in ED50 of baclofen by a factor of 4.835 and a parallel shift of the probit-log dosage regression line to the right. The parallel shift seems to be consistent with a competitive mechanism of action of AVA. This study presents evidence that AVA antagonizes central pharmacological actions of baclofen at both spinal and supraspinal sites without affecting the actions of a GABAA agonist, muscimol.

GABAB receptor antagonist and GABAA receptor agonist properties of a delta-aminovaleric acid derivative, Z-5-aminopent-2-enoic acid.

The activity of Z-5-aminopent-2-enoic acid (A), a conformationally restricted analogue of delta-aminovaleric acid, was investigated in vitro in the guinea pig isolated ileum and vas deferens. A was found to be a relatively potent GABAB-receptor antagonist and a relatively weak GABAA-receptor agonist. The GABAB-receptor antagonist activity of A was at least 5 times greater than that of phaclofen, a selective GABAB-receptor antagonist. A may therefore be an important lead for the development of new potent and selective GABAB-antagonists.