Abstract
d-amino acids, the enantiomeric counterparts of l-amino acids, were long considered to be non-functional or not even present in living organisms. Nowadays, d-amino acids are acknowledged to play important roles in numerous physiological processes in the human body. The most commonly studied link between d-amino acids and human physiology concerns the contribution of d-serine and d-aspartate to neurotransmission. These d-amino acids and several others have also been implicated in regulating innate immunity and gut barrier function. Importantly, the presence of certain d-amino acids in the human body has been linked to several diseases including schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and age-related disorders such as cataract and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, increasing evidence supports a role for d-amino acids in the development, pathophysiology, and treatment of cancer. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the various sources of d-amino acids, their metabolism, as well as their contribution to physiological processes and diseases in man, with a focus on cancer.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2205 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Nutrients |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2019 |
Keywords
- microbiota
- food processing
- racemization
- innate immunity
- cancer
- D-ASPARTIC ACID
- METHIONINE-CONTAINING SOLUTION
- D-SERINE LEVELS
- POSTNATAL CHANGES
- IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION
- NUCLEUS-ACCUMBENS
- HYDROGEN-SULFIDE
- OXIDATIVE STRESS
- OXIDASE ACTIVITY
- RAT-KIDNEY