Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 25(8), 961 (2009).

Analysis of Small Amounts of D-Amino Acids and the Study of Their Physiological Functions in Mammals
Kenji HAMASE, Akiko MORIKAWA, Sachise ETOH, Yosuke TOJO, Yurika MIYOSHI, and Kiyoshi ZAITSU
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
D-Amino acids, the enantiomers of L-amino acids, are candidates to be novel physiologically active substances and the biomarkers in mammals. However, the amounts of D-amino acids in the tissues and physiological fluids are extremely small in most cases, and sensitive and selective analytical methods are needed for their determination. In the present manuscript, we review the analytical technologies including our recent advances for the determinations of small amounts of D-amino acids in mammals and the applications to clarify their physiological meanings.