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The Role of Transaminations in the Pharmacological Effects of Indole-3-Pyruvic Acid

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Kynurenine and Serotonin Pathways

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 294))

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Abstract

Indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA), the keto-analog of tryptophan, is very much diffused in plants, where it can act as a phytohormone. In the past, it has been used as a substitute for tryptophan, with the aim to stimulate growth in rats (Jackson, 1930) or in chickens (Grigoriev and Truzhnikova, 1971). More recently, it has been shown that IPA decreases kynurenine formation by inhibiting tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TPO; EC 1.13.11.11) (Lavaggi et al., 1987) and increases serotonin turnover in rat brains, inducing remarkable sedation and analgesia (Bacciottini et al., 1987). Because IPA can interfere with aromatic aminoacid metabolism, acting as substrate or inhibitor of transami-inases, the present study was designed to find possible relationships between transaminases present in mammalian bodies and pharmacological effects observed after IPA administration.

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References

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© 1991 Plenum Press, New York

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Politi, V., Lavaggi, M.V., De Luca, G., Gorini, A. (1991). The Role of Transaminations in the Pharmacological Effects of Indole-3-Pyruvic Acid. In: Schwarcz, R., Young, S.N., Brown, R.R. (eds) Kynurenine and Serotonin Pathways. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 294. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5952-4_76

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5952-4_76

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5954-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5952-4

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