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Cysteine: Depolarization‐Induced Release from Rat Brain In Vitro
Author(s) -
Keller Hans Jörg,
Do Kim Quang,
Zollinger Markus,
Winterhalter Kaspar H.,
Cuénod Michel
Publication year - 1989
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.1471-4159.1989.tb07260.x
Subject(s) - depolarization , chemistry , neocortex , cysteine , iodoacetamide , extracellular , neurotransmission , derivatization , biochemistry , biophysics , biology , chromatography , high performance liquid chromatography , neuroscience , receptor , enzyme
Compounds released on depolarization in a Ca 2+ ‐dependent manner from rat brain slices were screened to identify candidates for neuroactive substances. Lyophilized superfusates were analyzed by reversed‐phase HPLC after derivatization with 9‐fluorenyl N ‐succinimidyl carbonate. One of the compounds that showed an increase of concentration in superfusates in the presence of iodoacetamide was identified as the cysteine (Cys) derivative, S ‐carboxamidomethylcysteine, by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and other methods. This stable Cys derivative originates from endogenous, extracellular Cys. The finding led to a method for quantification of Cys in superfusates by immediate cooling of the superfusates to 0°C and reaction of Cys with N ‐ethylmaleimide. Depolarization‐induced Ca 2+ ‐dependent release of Cys was most prominent in the neocortex, followed by the mesodiencephalon, striatum, and cerebellum. This suggests that Cys is released from a neuronal compartment and might be involved in neurotransmission.