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Identification of D-aspartate in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells
Y Moriyama1, H Yamada, M Hayashi
1Department of Cell Membrane Biology, Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Japan. moriyama@sanken.osaka-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
D-Aspartate is now known to be present in mammalian neuronal and endocrine cells in vivo, and may play some role(s) in neurocrine and endocrine functions. However, origin of D-aspartate is unknown. Here, we report that free D-aspartate (108 pmoles/3 x 10(7) cells) is present in the cultured PC12 cells, a rat pheochromocytoma cell line, as determined with immunohistochemical techniques as well as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a Pirkle-type chiral column. The amount of D-aspartate does not change with the passage. The culture medium does not contain D-aspartate. These results strongly suggest the presence of a de novo biosynthetic pathway for D-aspartate in the endocrine cells.