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D ‐Serine as a Modulator in the Nervous System
Author(s) -
Hucho Ferdinand
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3773(20000818)39:16<2849::aid-anie2849>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - racemization , amino acid , serine , chemistry , biochemistry , stereochemistry , phosphorylation
A functional role of a D ‐amino acid in the mammalian brain has been proven for the first time. Unlike the L ‐amino acids, the D ‐amino acids are not taken up with food or stereospecifically biosynthesized. Instead, they are formed by racemization from their L congeners, a process which is enzymatically catalyzed by racemases (see scheme). A serine racemase has now been isolated and cloned. It is a potential new target for neuroactive drugs.