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Influence of the Ionic Environment on the Conformation of Aspartic Acid and Possible Relevance to Its Neurotransmitter Action
Author(s) -
Esposito Gennaro,
Motta Andrea,
Temussi Piero A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1983.tb08071.x
Subject(s) - neurotransmitter , aspartic acid , calcium , chemistry , conformational isomerism , ionic strength , ionic bonding , nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy , amino acid , biophysics , biochemistry , stereochemistry , molecule , biology , ion , receptor , aqueous solution , organic chemistry
The conformational changes of aspartic acid, a possible neurotransmitter, induced by increasing ionic strength were investigated by means of NMR spectros‐copy. The effects of Li, Na, K, and Cs chlorides in basic and neutral conditions were characterized. The effects of the presence of both Ca 2+ and Na + or K + were also examined. The results always showed a relative stabilization of the two conformers with gauche carboxylates at the expense of the anticonformer. The significant quantitative difference found between Na + and K + in basic solutions, as well as between calcium‐free and calcium‐containing solutions, may bear some relevance for the role of aspartate as a CNS neurotransmitter.