Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Zimmerman D
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4981398 | biostudies-literature | 2016
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Zimmerman David D Goto Joy J JJ Krishnan Viswanathan V VV
PloS one 20160811 8
Elevated incidences of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism Dementia complex (ALS/PDC) is associated with β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a non-protein amino acid. In particular, the native Chamorro people living in the island of Guam were exposed to BMAA by consuming a diet based on the cycad seeds. Carbamylated forms of BMAA are glutamate analogues. The mechanism of neurotoxicity of the BMAA is not completely understood, and BMAA acting as a glutamate receptor agonist may lead to excitot ...[more]