Regulation of higher brain function via control of tryptophan metabolite kynurenic acid by amino acid intake

• Project/Area Number: 24614010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Integrated Nutrition Science
• Research Institution: The University of Shiga Prefecture
• Principal Investigator: FUKUWATARI Tsutomu 滋賀県立大学, 人間文化学部, 教授 (50295630)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OHNUKI Koichiro 近畿大学, 産業理工学部, 准教授 (50378668)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,460,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,260,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: アミノ酸 / 脳神経科学 / 代謝 / 脳環境保護 / 栄養学 / 脳・神経 / 食品

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to prevent and improve higher brain dysfunction by regulation of tryptophan metabolite kynurenic acid production from food scientific and nutritional aspects. In vitro study showed that 10 out of 19 amino acids suppressed kynurenic acid production via inhibition against kynurenic acid precursor kynurenine uptake or kynurenic acid synthesis reaction. In vivo study showed that administration of amino acid related compound suppressed high tryptophan diet-induced kynurenic acid production and lowering dopamine turnover. Behavioral study showed that high tryptophan diet revealed social interaction deficits, and different amino acids composition diet rescued the dysfunction. These results suggest that dietary amino acid can prevent and improve higher brain dysfunction by regulation of tryptophan metabolism in the brain.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Amino acids inhibit kynurenic acid formation via suppression of kynurenine uptake or kynurenic acid synthesis in rat brain in vitro. (2015)
  • Author(s): Sekine A, Okamoto M, Kanatani Y, Sano M, Shibata K, and Fukuwatari T.
  • Journal Title: SpringerPlus Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Pages: 48-48
  • DOI: 10.1186/s40064-015-0826-9
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Ten amino acids inhibit kynurenic acid formation via suppression of kynurenine uptake or kynurenic acid synthesis in rat brain in vitro (2015)
  • Author(s): Airi Sekine, Misaki Okamoto, Yuka Kanatani, Mitsue Sano, Katsumi Shibata, and Tsutomu Fukuwatari.
  • Organizer: 12th Asian Congress of Nutrition
  • Place of Presentation: パシフィコ横浜
  • Year and Date: 2015-05-16
• [Presentation] Administration of D-cycloserine suppresses kynurenic acid production in rat brain. (2015)
  • Author(s): Yusuke Kuroki, Chihiro Yamamoto, Airi Sekine, Noriyuki Mori, Tsutomu Fukuwatari.
  • Organizer: 12th Asian Congress of Nutrition
  • Place of Presentation: パシフィコ横浜
  • Year and Date: 2015-05-16
• [Presentation] ロイシンとリシンの同時摂取がラット脳内KYNA代謝調節を介したドーパミン代謝を調節する (2014)
  • Author(s): 関根 愛莉，佐野 光枝，柴田 克己，福渡 努
  • Organizer: 日本アミノ酸学会第8回学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京農業大学
  • Year and Date: 2014-11-09
• [Presentation] ラット脳におけるトリプトファン代謝産物キヌレン酸産生を制御するアミノ酸の検索 (2013)
  • Author(s): 関根 愛莉，岡本 美沙希，佐野 光枝，福渡 努，柴田 克己
  • Organizer: 第67回日本栄養・食糧学会大会
  • Place of Presentation: 名古屋大学
• [Presentation] 脳におけるトリプトファン代謝産物キヌレン酸産生を抑制するアミノ酸のin vitroスクリーニング
  • Author(s): 福渡 努，関根 愛莉，岡本 美沙希，佐野 光枝，柴田克己
  • Organizer: 日本アミノ酸学会第７回学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 熊本市医師会館