L-AP5

Evidence that L-AP5 and D,L-AP4 can preferentially block cone signals in the rat retina.[Pubmed:17430605]

Vis Neurosci. 2007 Jan-Feb;24(1):9-15.

Several lines of evidence suggest that, as concentrations of two agonists of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors are increased, cone contributions to the b-wave are blocked before rod contributions. Application of L-AP5 (L-2-amino-5-phosphonobutyric acid) at concentrations of 50 microM and D,L-AP4 (D,L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid) at concentrations 2 microM had a greater effect in reducing the amplitude of the rat ERG b-wave at high light intensities than at low light intensities. The amplitude reduction occurs at flash intensities that saturate rod photoreceptor responses. When steady backgrounds are used to saturate rod photoreceptors, the b-wave responses show increased long-wavelength sensitivity. Responses on a rod saturating background are blocked by adding L-AP5 or AP4 at the above concentrations to the perfusate. Further evidence for metabotrophic receptors being involved comes from the observation that even when ionotropic glutamate receptors are pharmacologically blocked with MK801 and DNQX, AP4 selectively blocks cone contributions to the b-wave. Thus we suggest that the type III metabotrophic receptors on depolarizing cone bipolar cells or cone synaptic terminals are affected by concentrations of L-AP5 and D,L-AP4 that have minimal effects on rod bipolar cells or rod synaptic terminals.

Utilization of the resolved L-isomer of 2-amino-6-phosphonohexanoic acid (L-AP6) as a selective agonist for a quisqualate-sensitized site in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.[Pubmed:7953634]

Brain Res. 1994 Jun 27;649(1-2):203-7.

Brief exposure of rat hippocampal slices to quisqualic acid (QUIS) sensitizes neurons to depolarization by the alpha-amino-omega-phosphonate excitatory amino acid (EAA) analogues AP4, AP5 and AP6. These phosphonates interact with a novel QUIS-sensitized site. Whereas L-AP4 and D-AP5 cross-react with other EAA receptors, DL-AP6 has been shown to be relatively selective for the QUIS-sensitized site. This specificity of DL-AP6, in conjunction with the apparent preference of this site for L-isomers, suggested that the hitherto unavailable L-isomer of AP6 would be a potent and specific agonist. We report the resolution of the D- and L-enantiomers of AP6 by fractional crystallization of the L-lysine salt of DL-AP6. We also report the pharmacological responses of kainate/AMPA, NMDA, lateral perforant path L-AP4 receptors and the CA1 QUIS-sensitized site to D- and L-AP6, and compare these responses to the D- and L-isomers of AP3, AP4, AP5 and AP7. The D-isomers of AP4, AP5 and AP6 were 5-, 3- and 14-fold less potent for the QUIS-sensitized site than their respective L-isomers. While L-AP4 and L-AP5 cross-reacted with NMDA and L-AP4 receptors, L-AP6 was found to be highly potent and specific for the QUIS-sensitized site (IC50 = 40 microM). Its IC50 values for kainate/AMPA, NMDA and L-AP4 receptors were > 10, 3 and 0.8 mM, respectively. As with AP4 and AP5, sensitization to L-AP6 was reversed by L-alpha-aminoadipate.

Actions of D and L forms of 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate and 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate in the cat spinal cord.[Pubmed:6145492]

Brain Res. 1982 Mar 11;235(2):378-86.

The separate optical enantiomers of 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) and 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB) have been tested for their ability to modify amino acid-induced and synaptic excitation of cat spinal neurones. D-(-)-APV was a highly potent and selective antagonist of amino acid-induced and synaptic excitation. Polysynaptic excitation was more susceptible to antagonism by D-APV than was monosynaptic excitation. It was considered likely that the depression of synaptic excitation by D-APV was due to the blockade of an excitatory amino acid transmitter acting at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. L-(+)-APV showed a relatively weak amino acid and synaptic blocking activity, which was similar in character to that of D-APV, and which may have been due to a slight residuum of the D isomer in the sample of the L form used. D-(-)-APB was a weak and relatively non-selective antagonist of amino acid-induced responses. In contrast, L-(+)-APB either had no effect or, at higher concentrations, enhanced these responses. Both isomers depressed synaptic responses in a proportion of the cells tested, the L form being the more potent isomer in producing this effect. Monosynaptic and polysynaptic excitations were both susceptible to this type of action. The depression of synaptic excitation by D-APB may have been due in some cases to the blockade of an excitatory amino acid transmitter. However, it is unlikely that the synaptic depressant action of L-APB is due to this mechanism.

The effects of a series of omega-phosphonic alpha-carboxylic amino acids on electrically evoked and excitant amino acid-induced responses in isolated spinal cord preparations.[Pubmed:7042024]

Br J Pharmacol. 1982 Jan;75(1):65-75.

1 The depressant actions on evoked electrical activity and the excitant amino acid antagonist properties of a range of omega-phosphonic alpha-carboxylic amino acids have been investigated in the isolated spinal cord preparations of the frog or immature rat. 2 When tested on dorsal root-evoked ventral root potentials, members of the homologous series from 2- amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid to 2-amino-8-phosphonooctanoic acid showed depressant actions which correlated with the ability of the substances to antagonize selectivity motoneuronal depolarizations induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate. 3 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate was the most potent substance of the series giving an apparent KD of 1.4 microM for the antagonism of responses to N-methyl-D-aspartate. 4 A comparison of the (+)- and (-)-forms of 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate indicated that the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist activity and the neuronal depressant action of this substance were both due mainly to the (-)-isomer. 5 The (-)- and (+)-forms of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate had different actions. The (-)-forms of this substance had a relatively weak and non-selective antagonist action on depolarizations induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate, quisqualate and kainate and a similarly weak depressant effect when tested on evoked electrical activity. The (+)-form was more potent than he (-)-form in depressing electrically evoked activity but did not antagonize responses to amino acid excitants. At concentrations higher than those required to depress electrically evoked activity, the (+)-form produced depolarization. This action was blocked by 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate.