kainic acid

kainic acid
A glutamate analog that exhibits powerful and long-acting excitatory and toxic activity on neurons; used as a research tool in neurobiology to destroy neurons and as an activator of glutamate receptors. Has been used as an anthelmintic against nematodes.

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kai·nic acid .kī-nik-, .kā- n an excitatory neurotoxin C10H15NO4 that is a glutamate analog orig. isolated from a dried red alga (Digenia simplex), that binds selectively to a subset of glutamate receptors which serve as ligand-gated ion channels on neurons, and that is used as an anthelmintic and experimentally to induce seizures and neurodegeneration in laboratory animals

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kain·ic ac·id (kānґik) an excitotoxin found in the seaweed Diginea simplex; it is 30 to 100 times as potent as glutamic acid and is used experimentally to study the excitatory mechanisms of glutamate transmitters.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • 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… …   Wikipedia

  • kainic acid — noun A heterocyclic dicarboxylic acid isolated from certain red algae; used as an anthelmintic in Japan. See Also: kainate …   Wiktionary

  • kainic acid — See kainate …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • kainic acid — /kuy nik/, Pharm. an analogue of glutamate, C10H15NO4, derived from the red alga Digenia simplex, used experimentally to stimulate certain neurons in the brain. [1953; < Japn kain(in so) the name of the alga + IC] * * * …   Universalium

  • kainic acid — ˌkīnik , ˌkān noun Etymology: Japanese kainin sō the alga Digenia simplex + English ic : a neurotoxic pyrrolidine derivative C10H15NO4 from a dried red alga (Digenia simplex) that is used as an ascaricide …   Useful english dictionary

  • kainic — adjective Of or pertaining to kainic acid or its derivatives …   Wiktionary

  • Domoic acid — Identifiers CAS number 14277 97 5 …   Wikipedia

  • Glutamic acid — Glutamic acid …   Wikipedia

  • ibotenic acid — Chemical similar to kainic acid extracted from poisonous mushroom species Amanita muscaria and A. pantherina (family Agaricaceae). Exhibits substantial neuroexcitatory properties. Used in neuropharmacologic research. * * * ibo·te·nic acid .ī bō… …   Medical dictionary

  • N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid — N Methyl D aspartic acid …   Wikipedia

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