Kainic acid (487-79-6) is a conformationally restricted glutamate analog which acts as a selective agonist at kainate receptors. CNS stimulant and neurotoxin. Kainic acid is a classic neuroexcitatory agent for induction of seizures in laboratory animals (typical dose 10-30 mg/kg).
(-)-α-Kainic Acid is a naturally occurring neuroexcitatory chemical that is an selective agonist for a subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor. Administration of (-)-α-Kainic Acid has been shown to increase production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis in neurons in many regions of the brain, particularly in the hippocampal subregions and in the hilus of dentate gyrus.
excitory amino acid, neurotoxin, neurobiology tool
glutamate receptor agonist, anthelmintic
ChEBI: Kainic acid is a dicarboxylic acid, a pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid, a L-proline derivative and a non-proteinogenic L-alpha-amino acid. It has a role as an antinematodal drug and an excitatory amino acid agonist. It is a conjugate acid of a kainate(1-).
Selective agonist at kainate receptors. Potent excitant and neurotoxin. Also available as part of the Kainate Receptor Tocriset™ .
Purify the acid by adsorbing on to a strongly acidic ion-exchange resin (Merck), elute the diacid with aqueous M NaOH, the eluate is evaporated, H2O is added, and filtered through a weakly acidic ion-exchange resin (Merck). The filtrate is then evaporated and recrystallised from EtOH. Its solubility is 0.1g in 1mL of 0.5N HCl. (±)--Kainic acid is recrystallised from H2O with m 230-260o. UV (MeOH): 219 (log 3.9); max 1HNMR (CCl4, 100MHz, Me4Si standard) : 1.64 (s 1H), 1.70 (s 3H), 3.24 (d J 7.5, 2H), 3.3-4.2 (1H), 3.70 (s 3H), 3.83 (s 3H), 4.35 (dd J 7.5, J 14.5, 1H), 5.21 (t J 7.5, 1H), 7.26 (t J 7.5, 1H). [Oppolzer & Andres Helv Chim Acta 62 2282 1979, Beilstein 22 III/IV 1523.]
1) Watkins et al. (1981), Excitatory amino acid transmitters; Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 21 165
