The neurotransmitter candidature of sulphur-containing excitatory amino acids in the mammalian central nervous system

• Published in: Pharmacology & therapeutics (Oxford) Vol. 72; no. 1; pp. 25 - 36
• Main Authors: Thompson, Gareth A., Kilpatrick, Ian C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 1996
• Subjects: Animals; Central Nervous System - metabolism; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Excitatory amino acid; Immunohistochemistry; l-cysteic acid; l-cysteine sulphinic acid; l-glutamate; l-homocysteic acid; l-homocysteine sulphinic acid; Mice; Neurotransmitter Agents - biosynthesis; Neurotransmitter Agents - chemistry; Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism; Neurotransmitter Agents - pharmacology; Neurotransmitter Agents - therapeutic use; Rats; Receptors, Glutamate - drug effects; Receptors, Glutamate - metabolism; Structure-Activity Relationship; Sulfur - metabolism; Tissue Distribution; l-glutamate; l-homocysteine sulphinic acid; Excitatory amino acid; l-homocysteic acid; l-cysteine sulphinic acid; l-cysteic acid
• ISSN: 0163-7258; 1879-016X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0163-7258(96)00097-6

While l-glutamate ( l-Glu) is considered to be the predominant excitatory amino acid transmitter in the mammalian CNS, other amino acids have come under scrutiny as possible rivals for such a role. These include four sulphur-containing analogues of l-Glu and l-aspartate known as the SAAs. The l-Glu analogues are l-homocysteic acid and l-homocysteine sulphinic acid, while the l-aspartate analogues are l-cysteic acid and l-cysteine sulphinic acid. They are mixed agonists of excitatory amino acid receptors on a variety of neurones and are reported to be present in and released from mammalian CNS tissue. This review serves to summarize the current state of research into the possibility that one or more of these compounds is indeed a transmitter within the mammalian CNS.