Development of multidimensional chiral HPLC methods for metabolic related amino acids and search for early diagnostic markers for psychiatric and neurological disorders

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16343
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 47020:Pharmaceutical analytical chemistry and physicochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Fukuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Koga Reiko 福岡大学, 薬学部, 助教 (20804545)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: キラルアミノ酸 / 多次元HPLC / 代謝関連アミノ酸 / 分析化学 / 光学分割

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The novel analytical methods for the enantioselective determination of metabolic-related amino acids were developed to search for early diagnostic biomarkers of psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia. The developed methods addressed the lack of selectivity in the analysis of biological samples by combining several different separation modes, and achieved precise quantification of trace amounts of metabolic-related D-amino acids in biological samples. Various metabolic-related D-amino acids were found in clinical samples and it was also revealed that the %D values of some amino acids in plasma and urine samples showed significant changes depending on the alteration of the activity of D-Amino acid oxidase (DAO), which is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Free Research Field

分析化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

精神・神経疾患の多くは早期の診断と適切な治療の開始により症状の大幅な軽減が可能であるため、早期および客観的診断を可能とする指標の発見は人々のQOL向上につながる。統合失調症などの病態へのD-アミノ酸酸化酵素（DAO）の関与が報告され、その活性変化を反映し得る指標として代謝関連D-アミノ酸が注目を集めているが、分析法の欠如により研究が停滞していた。本研究の遂行により、種々の代謝関連アミノ酸のキラル識別分析が達成され、生体内におけるD体の存在が明らかとなった。また、一部のD-アミノ酸についてはDAOの活性変化に伴う有意な変化が認められ、今後疾患の診断指標としての利用に向けた更なる研究が期待される。