Appearance of D-amino acids during aging: D-amino acids in tumor proteins. 1998

G H Fisher
Department of Chemistry, Barry University, Miami, FL 33161, USA.

In 1939 Kögl and Erxleben [1-4] reported that tumor proteins contain appreciable amounts of D-amino acids, specifically glutamic acid, valine, leucine and lysine, implying that both the initiation and autonomous character of tumors depends on the formation and maintenance of these D-amino acids in the cell proteins. This postulate remained highly controversial for over 10 years, during which time several papers both supporting and refuting this hypothesis were published. The dispute existed almost entirely between Kögl, a vigorous and able protagonist at the University of Utrecht, Netherlands, and an impressive array of equally vigorous and able dissenters in the United Kingdom and Germany. An excellent review of both sides of this controversy was written by Miller in 1950 [5]. After many years and much effort the controversy then seemed to be put to rest. However, more than 40 years later the development of much more refined analytical techniques for the resolution and detection of amino acid enantiomers provided more definitive evidence that D-amino acids are not common to all tumor tissues and probably are not integral to the cancer process. This is not surprising when one considers that a tumor consists of fast-growing cells. Thus, there would not be sufficient time for any L-amino acid to racemize to the D isomer. Some D-amino acids may originate in foods consumed, but it is uncertain whether enzyme systems are able to incorporate D-amino acids into tumor proteins during growth. Nevertheless, if significant levels of D-amino acids were to be found in tumor proteins, the implications could be far-reaching. Confirmation of the presence of D-amino acids at any concentration in tumors would provide new insights into the mechanism for autogenesis and maintenance of tumors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009363 Neoplasm Proteins Proteins whose abnormal expression (gain or loss) are associated with the development, growth, or progression of NEOPLASMS. Some neoplasm proteins are tumor antigens (ANTIGENS, NEOPLASM), i.e. they induce an immune reaction to their tumor. Many neoplasm proteins have been characterized and are used as tumor markers (BIOMARKERS, TUMOR) when they are detectable in cells and body fluids as monitors for the presence or growth of tumors. Abnormal expression of ONCOGENE PROTEINS is involved in neoplastic transformation, whereas the loss of expression of TUMOR SUPPRESSOR PROTEINS is involved with the loss of growth control and progression of the neoplasm. Proteins, Neoplasm
D009369 Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D003605 D-Amino-Acid Oxidase dextro-Amino Acid Oxidase,D-Amino Acid Dehydrogenase,Acid Dehydrogenase, D-Amino,Acid Oxidase, dextro-Amino,D Amino Acid Dehydrogenase,D Amino Acid Oxidase,Dehydrogenase, D-Amino Acid,Oxidase, D-Amino-Acid,Oxidase, dextro-Amino Acid,dextro Amino Acid Oxidase
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000596 Amino Acids Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins. Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D013237 Stereoisomerism The phenomenon whereby compounds whose molecules have the same number and kind of atoms and the same atomic arrangement, but differ in their spatial relationships. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 5th ed) Molecular Stereochemistry,Stereoisomers,Stereochemistry, Molecular,Stereoisomer

Related Publications

G H Fisher
January 1998, EXS,
G H Fisher
April 1984, Biochemical medicine,
G H Fisher
November 2011, Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences,
G H Fisher
November 1989, Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!