Kainic acid

Chembox new
Reference = ["Merck Index", 11th Edition, 5157]
ImageFile = Kainic acid.png ImageSize =
IUPACName = (2S,3S,4S)-3-(carboxymethyl)-4-prop-1-en-2-ylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid
OtherNames = 2-Carboxy-3-carboxymethyl-4-isopropenyl-pyrrolidine
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 487-79-6
PubChem = 10255
SMILES = CC(=C) [C@H] 1CN [C@@H] ( [C@H] 1CC(=O)O)C(=O)O
Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = C₁₀H₁₅NO₄
MolarMass = 213.23 g/mol
Appearance = Crystalline needles
Density =
MeltingPt = 215 °C (decomp.)
BoilingPt =
Solubility =
Section3 = Chembox Hazards
MainHazards =
FlashPt =
Autoignition =

Kainic acid is a natural marine acid present in some algae. It is a specific agonist for the kainate receptor used as an ionotrophic glutamate receptor which mimicks the effect of glutamate. It is used in experiments to distinguish a receptor from the other ionotropic receptors for glutamate such as NMDA and AMPA, a.k.a. quisqualate.

Occurrence

In 1953, kainic acid was originally isolated from the red alga called "Kainin-sou"(海人草) or "Makuri" ("Digenea simplex") in Japan. "Kainin-sou" is used as an anthelmintic in Japan.

Kainic acid is a potent central nervous system stimulant, and has been developed as the prototype neuroexcitatory amino acid for the induction of seizures in experimental animals, at a typical dose of 10-30 mg/kg in mice. Kainic acid is neuroexcitotoxic and epileptogenic, acting through specific kainate receptors.

Because of the supply shortage in 2000, the price of kainic acid has risen significantly. It is available from Milestone Pharmtech, Cayman Chemical, Tocris ….

There are two kinds of kainic acid: one comes from natural source; the other was synthesized. The synthetic kainic acid is totally glutamate free and has much better solubility in water than the kainic acid from natural source. In the above providers, Milestone Pharmtech can provide the highest pure synthetic kainic acid (>99%) at a much lower price than others. It will give much better experimental results for neuroscientist and save them spending at the same time.

Applications

* antiworming agent
* neuroscience research
** neurodegenerative agent
** modeling of epilepsy
** modeling of Alzheimer's disease

ee also

* Domoic acid

References

External links

* [http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Synaptic/info/kainate/kainate_1.htm Kainate Receptors]