Summary
Total D-amino acids were measured in plasma for 20 non-dialysed patients (creatinine clearance < 12 ml/minute), 20 on CAPD, 20 on haemodialysis and 20 normals. Plasma D-tyrosine and D-phenylalanine were measured in 8 of each group by HPLC. Total D-amino acids, D-tyrosine and D-phenylalanine were significantly greater for patients than normals. D-amino acids and D-tyrosine correlated with creatinine and were decreased during HD. During dialysis, the mean losses for D-tyrosine and D-phenylalanine were similar, about 0.2 mg/CAPD exchange and 3 mg/4 hour haemodialysis (i.e. 2% of the total amino acid, as in plasma). Clearance was unaffected by stereochemical configuration. Urinary losses/24 hour in the non-dialysed patients were 0.35 mg D-tyrosine and 0.25 mg D-phenylalanine. Clearance for D-phenylalanine was greater than for the L-enantiomer. Increases in D-amino acids in renal failure are probably due to depletion of D-amino acid oxidase, but may be enhanced by a D-amino acid rich diet, peptide antibiotics and D-amino acid oxidase inhibiting drugs and metabolites. Possible toxic effects need further investigation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armstrong DW, Duncan JD, Lee SH (1991) Evaluation of D-amino acid levels in human urine and in commercial L-amino acid samples. Amino Acids 1: 97–106
Artom C, Morehead RP, Fishman WH (1945) The relative toxicity of L- and DL-serine in rats. Proc Soc Exp Med Biol 60: 284–287
Barker RF, Hopkinson DA (1977) The genetic and biochemical properties of the D-amino acid oxidases in human tissues. Ann Hum Genet Lond 41: 27–42
Brückner H, Jaek P, Langer M, Godel H (1992) Liquid chromotographic determination of D-amino acids in cheese and cow milk. Implication of starter cultures, amino acid racemases, and rumen microorganisms on formation, and nutritional considerations. Amino Acids 2: 271–284
Brückner H, Hausch M (1993) Gas chromatographic characterization of free D-amino acids in the blood serum of patients with renal disorders and of healthy volunteers. J Chromatogr 614: 7–17
Corrigan JJ, Srinivasan NG (1966) The occurrence of certain D-amino acids in insects. Biochemistry 5: 1185–1190
Friedman M, Gumbmann MR (1984) The nutritive value and safety of D-phenylalanine and D-tyrosine in mice. J Nutr 114: 2089–2096
Ganote CE, Peterson DR, Carone FA (1974) The nature of D-serine-induced nephrotoxicity. Am J Pathol 77: 269–276
Hamilton GA, Buckthal DJ (1982) The inhibition of mammalian D-amino acid oxidase by metabolites and drugs. Inferences concerning physiological function. Bioorg Chem 11: 350–370
Helfman PM, Bada JL (1975) Aspartic acid racemization in tooth enamel from living humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci 72: 2891–2894
Hoeprich PD (1965) Alanine: cycloserine anatagonism. VI Demonstration of D-alanine in the serum of guinea pigs and mice. J Biol Chem 240: 1654–1660
Inoue Y, Zama Y, Suzuki M (1981) D-amino acids as immunosuppressive agents. Jpn J Exp Med 51: 363–366
Kampel D, Kupferschmidt R, Lubec G (1990) Toxicity of D-proline. In: Rosenthal R, Lubec G (eds) Amino acids: chemistry, biology and medicine. Escom, Leiden, pp 1164–1171
Ketting D, Wadman SK, Spaapen LJM, Van der Meer SB, Duran M (1991) Gas chromatography method for the separation of amino acids enantiomers in plasma and urine. Application in a case of short bowel syndrome. Clin Chim Acta 204: 79–86
Lehman WD, Theobald N, Fischer R, Heinrich HC (1983) Stereospecificity of phenylalanine plasma kinetics and hydroxylation in man following oral application of a stable isotopelabelled pseudo-racemic mixture of L- and D-phenylalanine. Clin Chim Acta 128: 181–198
Man EH, Sandhouse NE, Burg J, Fisher GH (1983) Accummulation of D-aspartic acid with age in the brain. Science 220: 1407–1408
Man EH, Bada JL (1987) Dietary D-amino acids. Ann Rev Nutr 7: 209–225
Masters PM, Bada JL, Zigler JS (1977) Aspartic acid racemisation in the human lens during ageing and in cataract formation. Nature 268: 71–73
Meister A (ed) (1965) Biochemistry of the amino acids, vol 1, 2nd edn. Academic Press, New York, pp 369–371
Nagata Y, Akino T, Ohno K, Kataoka Y, Ueda T, Sakurai T, Shiroshita KI, Yasuda T (1987) Free D-amino acids in human plasma in relation to senescence and renal diseases. Clin Sci 73: 105–108
Nagata Y, Akino T (1990) D-amino acids in mouse tissues are not of microbial origin. Experentia 46: 466–467
Nagata Y, Masui R, Akino T (1992) The presence of free D-serine, D-alanine and D-proline in human plasma. Experentia 48: 986–988
Niiyama M, Degnchi E, Kagota K, Namioka S (1979) Appearance of 15N-labelled intestinal microbial amino acids in the venous blood of the pig colon. Am J Vet Res 40: 716–718
Preston RL (1987) Occurrence of D-amino acids in higher organisms: a survey of the distribution of D-amino acids in marine invertebrates. Comp Biochem Physiol 87B: 55–62
Robinson T (1976) D-amino acids in higher plants. Life Sci 19: 1097–1102
Ueda R, Morgan SL, Fox A, Gilbert J, Sonesson A, Larsson L, Odham G (1989) D-alanine as a chemical marker for the determination of streptococcal cell wall levels in mammalian tissues by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 61: 265–270
Young GA, Parsons FM (1973) Impairment of phenylananine hydroxylation in chronic renal insufficiency. Clin Sci Mol Med 45: 89–97
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Young, G.A., Kendall, S. & Brownjohn, A.M. D-Amino acids in chronic renal failure and the effects of dialysis and urinary losses. Amino Acids 6, 283–293 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00813748
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00813748