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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

High glutamate decreases S100B secretion by a mechanism dependent on the glutamate transporter.

Several molecules have been shown to be involved in glial-neuronal communication, including S100B, an astrocyte-derived neurotrophic cytokine. Extracellular S100B protects hippocampal neurons from excitotoxic damage, whilst toxic levels of glutamate to neurons have been shown to reduce S100B secretion in astrocytes and brain slices, by an unknown mechanism. Here, we investigate which mechanisms are possibly involved in this effect in primary cultures of hippocampal astrocytes using glutamate agonists and glutamate uptake inhibitors. DCG-IV, an agonist of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors, caused a smaller decrease in S100B secretion when compared to 1 mM glutamate. D: -aspartate partially reverted the glutamate effect on S100B release and two other inhibitors, PDC and DIDS, reverted it completely. These findings suggest that S100B secretion is inversely coupled to glutamate uptake. Decrease in S100B secretion may be considered as direct excitotoxic damage, but a beneficial mechanism effect cannot be ruled out, because S100B elevation could cause an additional cell death.

Amino Acid Transport System X-AG↗
PubMed1980

A comparison of sodium-dependent glutamate binding with high-affinity glutamate uptake in rat striatum.

The specific sodium-dependent binding of [3H]glutamate to membranes of the rat striatum was examined and a comparison made with high affinity glutamate uptake. In the presence of sodium, [3H]glutamate binding was saturable and of high affinity. No binding could be detected in the absence of sodium. Removal of the cortical afferents to the striatum resulted in a parallel decrease in Na+-dependent glutamate binding and in high-affinity glutamate uptake. After the injection of the neurotoxin kainic acid into the striatum, the density of Na+-dependent glutamate binding sites was reduced by 40%, while high-affinity uptake showed no significant decrease. Drugs which inhibit high-affinity uptake were also effective at inhibiting Na+-dependent binding. The results suggest that about half the Na+-dependent glutamate binding sites in the striatum represent high-affinity uptake sites on the corticostriatal terminals. The remainder of the binding sites are located on striatal neurons and may also be uptake sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

The interaction of four putative glutamate antagonists with glutamate and their effects on the toad spinal cord.

1. Four putative glutamate antagonists (L-glutamate diethyl ester, L-glutamate dimethyl ester, L-proline and 1-hydroxy-3-amino-pyrrolidone-2) were tested on the isolated hemisected toad spinal cord. 2. 1-hydroxy-3-amino-pyrrolidone-2 (10(-3)-10(-2) M) selectively antagonized the depolarizations evoked in both dorsal and ventral roots by applications of L-glutamate (5 X 10(-4) M). 3 1-hydroxy-3-amino-pyrrolidone-2 also antagonized the depolarizations evoked in both dorsal and ventral roots by stimulation of the adjacent dorsal root. 4. The dimethyl and diethyl esters of L-glutamate and L-proline had their own depolarizing actions on the dorsal and ventral roots, and neither potentiated nor antagonized the effects of L-glutamate. 5. The results with 1-hydroxy-3-amino-pyrrolidone-2 offer further evidence for the involvement of L-glutamate and L-aspartate in synaptic transmission in the amphibian spinal cord.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Glutamate efflux via the reversal of the sodium-dependent glutamate transporter caused by glycolytic inhibition in rat cultured astrocytes.

[3H]L-Glutamate uptake in cultured rat astrocytes was completely reduced by 30 min preincubation with 1 mM of iodoacetic acid, a glycolytic inhibitor. This treatment significantly reduced the energy charge potential, but did not cause membrane destruction in the cultured astrocytes. To examine the effect of iodoacetic acid on the glutamate release, [3H]L-glutamate was preloaded into astrocytes in the presence of methionine sulfoximine, a glutamine synthetase inhibitor, and the total intracellular radioactivity was measured after 30-min treatment with 1 mM iodoacetic acid for comparison with non-treated astrocytes. During the treatment, about 40% of the total intracellular glutamate content was effluxed. This efflux could be decreased by reducing the extracellular potassium ion concentration. The intracellular sodium concentration, measured with a sodium ion-sensitive fluorescent probe (sodium-binding benzofuran isophtalate), gradually increased to 30 mM on addition of 1 mM iodoacetic acid. These results indicate that the glutamate efflux via reversal of the Na(+)-dependent transporter occurred during glycolytic inhibition, and which may be caused by intracellular Na+ overload. Such an iodoacetic acid-induced Na+ overload could be completely diminished by pretreatment with 1 microM 5-[N- ethyl-N-isopropyl]amiloride, a selective Na(+)-H+ antiporter inhibitor, but even this did not stop the iodoacetic acid-induced glutamate efflux. The intracellular pH, measured by a pH-sensitive fluorescent probe [2',7'-bis(carboxyethy)-5,6-carboxy-fluorescein], was gradually decreased to 7.1 by the iodoacetic acid treatment. On the other hand, iodoacetic acid-induced intracellular acidosis was more rapid and severe in the presence of 5-[N-ethyl-N-isopropyl]amiloride. These results suggest that the reversal of the Na+-dependent glutamate transporter may be caused by not only intracellular Na+ overload but also intracellular acidosis.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed2004

Stereoselective inhibition of glutamate carboxypeptidase by organophosphorus derivatives of glutamic acid.

A series of alkyl and aryl phosphonyl, thiophosphonyl, and dithiophosphonyl derivatives of (S)- and (R)-glutamic acid were prepared and examined for inhibitory potency against glutamate carboxypeptidase (carboxypeptidase G). The acquisition of the phosphonamidodithioic acids and the individual phosphonamidothioic acid diastereomers was achieved through a common phosphonamidothiolate precursor, which also allowed for the chromatographic resolution of the chiral phosphorus center of the phosphonamidothioic acids. The most potent inhibitor of the series was the n-butylphosphonamidate derivative of the natural isomer of glutamic acid. Although each diastereomeric pair of three phosphonamidothionates exhibited stereoselective inhibition consistent with the configuration of the chiral phosphorus center, this effect was generally not remarkable. More important, was the effect of carbon stereochemistry upon glutamate carboxypeptidase inhibition as exemplified by a limited series of enantiomeric pairs of phosphonamidate and phosphonamidodithionate derivatives of glutamic acid. The phosphonamidate analogs derived from the unnatural stereoisomer of glutamic acid were devoid of inhibitory potency in contrast to their enantiomers. Surprisingly, the phosphonamidodithionates derived from the unnatural stereoisomer of glutamic acid demonstrated greater inhibitory potency than their naturally-derived antipodes.

Carboxypeptidases↗
PubMed2005

Cerebral neurons of transgenic ALS mice are vulnerable to glutamate release stimulation but not to increased extracellular glutamate due to transport blockade.

Mechanisms of motor neuron loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are unknown, but it has been postulated that excitotoxicity due to excessive glutamatergic neurotransmission by decreased efficiency of glutamate transport may be involved in both familial (FALS) and sporadic ALS. Using microdialysis in vivo, we tested the effects of the glutamate transport inhibitor L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (PDC) and of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), which stimulates glutamate release from nerve endings, in the hippocampus and motor cortex of wild type (WT) and transgenic SOD1/G93A mice, an established model of FALS. Perfusion of 4-AP induced convulsions, expression of the inducible stress-marker heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) and hippocampal neuronal loss. These effects were similar in both WT and G93A mice, and, in both groups, they were prevented by the previous systemic administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801. In contrast, perfusion of PDC resulted in a large and long-lasting (2 h) increase of extracellular glutamate, but no convulsions, neuronal damage or HSP70 expression were observed in either the WT or the G93A mice. Our results demonstrate that SOD1 G93A mutation does not enhance the vulnerability to endogenous glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity in brain, neither by blocking glutamate transport nor by stimulating its release. Therefore, these data do not support the possibility that glutamate transport deficiency may be an important factor of brain neuronal degeneration in familial ALS.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed2001

Effects of methylmalonic and propionic acids on glutamate uptake by synaptosomes and synaptic vesicles and on glutamate release by synaptosomes from cerebral cortex of rats.

Neurological dysfunction is common in patients with methylmalonic and propionic acidemias. However, the mechanisms underlying the neuropathology of these disorders are far from understood. In the present study we investigated the in vitro effects of methylmalonic (MMA) and propionic (PA) acids at various concentrations (1 microM-5 mM) on three parameters of the glutamatergic system, namely the basal and potassium-induced release of L-[3H]glutamate by synaptosomes, Na+-dependent L-[3H]glutamate uptake by synaptosomes and Na+-independent L-[3H]glutamate uptake by synaptic vesicles from cerebral cortex of male adult Wistar rats. The results showed that MMA significantly increased potassium-induced but not basal L-[3H]glutamate release from synaptosomes with no alteration in synaptosomal L-[3H]glutamate uptake. A significant reduction of L-[3H]glutamate incorporation into vesicles caused by MMA was also detected. In contrast, PA had no effect on these parameters. These findings indicate that MMA alters the glutamatergic system. Although additional studies are necessary to evaluate the importance of these observations for the neuropathology of methylmalonic acidemia, it is possible that the effects elicited by MMA may lead to excessive glutamate concentrations at the synaptic cleft, a fact that may explain previous in vivo and in vitro findings associating MMA with excitotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effects of L-glutamate, D-aspartate, and monensin on glycolytic and oxidative glucose metabolism in mouse astrocyte cultures: further evidence that glutamate uptake is metabolically driven by oxidative metabolism.

The hypothesis was tested that oxidative metabolism, mainly fueled by glutamate itself, provides the energy for active, Na(+),K(+)-ATPase-catalyzed Na(+) extrusion following glutamate uptake in conjunction with Na(+). This hypothesis was supported by the following observations: (i) glutamate had either no effect or caused a slight reduction in glycolytic rate, measured as deoxyglucose phosphorylation; (ii) D-aspartate, which is accumulated by the L-glutamate carrier, but cannot be metabolized by the cells, caused an increase in glycolytic rate; (iii) monensin which, like D-aspartate, stimulates the intracellular, Na(+)-activated site of the Na, K-ATPase and thus energy metabolism, but provides no metabolic substrate, stimulated both glycolysis and glucose oxidation; and (iv) oxidation of glucose was potently inhibited by glutamate, although glutamate is known to stimulate oxygen consumption in primary cultures of astrocytes, a combination showing that oxidation of a non-glucose substrate is increased in the presence of glutamate. These findings should be considered in attempts to understand metabolic interactions between neurons and astrocytes and regulation of energy metabolism in brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

A difference in the incorporation of 14C into hippurate glycine from DL-(2-14C)-glutamate and DL-(5-14C)glutamate in guinea pigs.

The specific radioactivity of urinary hippurate glycine was determined after injecting guinea pigs with benzoate and either dl-[2-(14)C]glutamate or dl-[5-(14)C]glutamate. The isotope dilution factor for the formation of [(14)C]glycine was significantly greater (30%) with C-2 labelled glutamate. With either form of labelled glutamate the hippurate glycine was largely carboxyl-group labelled. The observations suggest a route for the incorporation of glutamate carbon into glycine that involves C-5 but not C-2. A hypothesis for glycine biosynthesis from l-glutamate is advanced, consistent with these findings, that includes conversion of l-glutamate to 4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutarate, the scission of the latter to glyoxylate and pyruvate, and the formation of glycine by transamination.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1996

Fimbria-fornix transections selectively down-regulate subtypes of glutamate transporter and glutamate receptor proteins in septum and hippocampus.

The effects of CNS axotomy on glutamate transporter and glutamate receptor expression were evaluated in adult rats following unilateral fimbria-fornix transections. The septum and hippocampus were collected at 3, 7, 14, and 30 days postlesion. Homogenates were immunoblotted by using antibodies directed against glutamate transporters (GLT-1, GLAST, and EAAC1) and glutamate receptors (GluR1, GluR2/3, GluR6/7, and NMDAR1), and they were assayed for glutamate transport by D-[3H]aspartate binding. GLT-1 was decreased at 7 and 14 days postlesion within the ipsilateral septum and at 7 days postlesion in the hippocampus. GLAST was decreased within the ipsilateral septum and hippocampus at 7 and 14 days postlesion. No postlesion alterations in EAAC1 immunoreactivity were observed. D-[3H]Aspartate binding was decreased at 7, 14, and 30 days postlesion within the ipsilateral septum and 14 days postlesion in the hippocampus. GluR2/3 expression was down-regulated at 30 days postlesion within the ipsilateral septum, whereas GluR1, GluR6/7, and NMDAR1 immunoreactivity was unchanged. In addition, no alterations in glutamate receptor expression were detected within hippocampal homogenates. This study demonstrates a selective down-regulation of primarily glial, and not neuronal, glutamate transporters and a delayed, subtype-specific down-regulation of septal GluR2/3 receptor expression after regional deafferentation within the CNS.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed2006

Neutralization of the aspartic acid residue Asp-367, but not Asp-454, inhibits binding of Na+ to the glutamate-free form and cycling of the glutamate transporter EAAC1.

Substrate transport by the plasma membrane glutamate transporter EAAC1 is coupled to cotransport of three sodium ions. One of these Na(+) ions binds to the transporter already in the absence of glutamate. Here, we have investigated the possible involvement of two conserved aspartic acid residues in transmembrane segments 7 and 8 of EAAC1, Asp-367 and Asp-454, in Na(+) cotransport. To test the effect of charge neutralization mutations in these positions on Na(+) binding to the glutamate-free transporter, we recorded the Na(+)-induced anion leak current to determine the K(m) of EAAC1 for Na(+). For EAAC1(WT), this K(m) was determined as 120 mm. When the negative charge of Asp-367 was neutralized by mutagenesis to asparagine, Na(+) activated the anion leak current with a K(m) of about 2 m, indicating dramatically impaired Na(+) binding to the mutant transporter. In contrast, the Na(+) affinity of EAAC1(D454N) was virtually unchanged compared with the wild type transporter (K(m) = 90 mm). The reduced occupancy of the Na(+) binding site of EAAC1(D367N) resulted in a dramatic reduction in glutamate affinity (K(m) = 3.6 mm, 140 mm [Na(+)]), which could be partially overcome by increasing extracellular [Na(+)]. In addition to impairing Na(+) binding, the D367N mutation slowed glutamate transport, as shown by pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of transport currents, by strongly decreasing the rate of a reaction step associated with glutamate translocation. Our data are consistent with a model in which Asp-367, but not Asp-454, is involved in coordinating the bound Na(+) in the glutamate-free transporter form.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1977

Biogenesis of the mitochondrial matrix enzyme, glutamate dehydrogenase, in rat liver cells. I. Subcellular localization, biosynthesis, and intracellular translocation of glutamate dehydrogenase.

1. The presence of glutamate dehydrogenase in the microsomal fraction of rat liver was confirmed. The identities of mitochondrial and microsomal glutamate dehydrogenases were proved by immunochemical methods and by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified enzymes. 2. Synthesis of glutamate dehydrogenase by the membrane-bound ribosomes of rough endoplasmic reticulum was determined. Newly synthesized enzyme molecules were discharged on the cytoplasmic surface of endoplasmic reticulum membranes. 3. A precursor-product relationship was found between microsomal and mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenases. About six hours were needed for the transport of glutamate dehydrogenase from the site of synthesis to mitochondria. 4. The half-life of glutamate dehydrogenase was about 5.5 days, which was somewhat longer than that of mitochondrial total protein determined in the same experiment. 5. Mitochondrial-type malate dehydrogenase was also present in the microsomal fraction. Subfractionation of smooth microsomes revealed the existence of particular light microsomal vesicles in which both glutamate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase were concentrated. These vesicles may participate in intracellular transport of matrix enzymes from microsomes to mitochondria.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Biogenesis of the mitochondrial matrix enzyme, glutamate dehydrogenase, in rat liver cells. II. Significance of binding of glutamate dehydrogenase to microsomal membrane.

1. Glutamate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase solubilized from liver microsomes were able to rebind to microsomal vesicles while the corresponding dehydrogenases extracted from mitochondria showed no affinity for microsomes. 2. Competition was noticed between microsomal glutamate dehydrogenase and microsomal malate dehydrogenase in the binding to microsomal membranes. Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase or bovine serum albumin did not inhibit the binding of microsomal glutamate dehydrogenase to microsomes. 3. Binding of microsomal glutamate dehydrogenase to microsomal membranes decreased when microsomes was preincubated with trypsin. 4. Rough microsomal glutamate dehydrogenase was more efficiently bound to rough microsomes than smooth microsomes. Conversely, smooth microsomal glutamate dehydrogenase had higher affinity for smooth microsomes than for rough microsomes. 5. A difference was noticed among the glutamate dehydrogenase isolated from rough and smooth microsomes, and from mitochondria, which suggested the possibility of minor post-translational modification of enzyme molecules in the transport from the site of synthesis to mitochondria.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Glutamate receptor agonists up-regulate glutamate transporter GLAST in astrocytes.

Long-term treatment of astrocytes in primary culture with L-glutamate (0.1-3 mM) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in D-[3H]aspartate uptake. The effect was abolished by an antagonist of kainate/AMPA receptors, CNQX, and mimicked by kainate, but not by AMPA or tACPD. Both glutamate and kainate caused a dramatic up-regulation (82% and 69%, respectively) of GLAST, a predominant glutamate transporter in cultured astroglia, though the mRNA levels appeared unaffected. Long-term treatment of cultures with dBcAMP stimulated D-[3H]aspartate uptake as well as GLAST expression. Apart from glutamate, none of the agonists used was capable of increasing further the uptake capacity of the dBcAMP-treated astroglia. The glutamate receptor-dependent modulation of glutamate transport in astroglial cultures may represent a novel feedback regulatory mechanism for glutamate uptake in the brain.

Amino Acid Transport System X-AG↗
PubMed2001

Isoflurane enhances glutamate uptake via glutamate transporters in rat glial cells.

In this study I examined whether isoflurane, an inhalational anesthetic used commonly in clinical practice, affected glutamate uptake via glutamate transporters, proteins expressed in the plasma membrane of cells in the central nervous system. Isoflurane at clinically relevant concentrations (1-3%) caused a time-, sodium- and concentration-dependent increase of glutamate uptake in primary cultures of rat cerebral mixed glial cells. This enhancement was inhibited by a specific glutamate transporter inhibitor. The study also demonstrated that 2.0% isoflurane significantly increased both Vmax and Km of transporter-mediated glutamate uptake. Thus, isoflurane enhances glutamate uptake by a pathway that requires function of glutamate transporters. This represents a novel pharmacological effect of inhalational anesthetics and may contribute to isoflurane-induced anesthesia and neuroprotective effects.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed2006

Glutamate dehydrogenase activity in lactobacilli and the use of glutamate dehydrogenase-producing adjunct Lactobacillus spp. cultures in the manufacture of cheddar cheese.

AIMS: The study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of glutamate dehydrogenase activity in different species of lactobacilli, and to determine, in a series of cheese-making trials, the effects of glutamate dehydrogenase-producing adjunct cultures on sensory attribute development during the maturation of cheddar cheese. METHODS AND RESULTS: The presence of dehydrogenase activity with glutamate as substrate was monitored in cell lysates of >100 strains from 30 different species of lactobacilli using a qualitative colorimetric plate screening assay. Activity was detectable in 25 of the 29 representative species obtained from culture collections and in 12 of the 13 non-starter species isolated from cheese. There were pronounced interspecies and strain differences in the occurrence, level and pyridine nucleotide specificity of the glutamate dehydrogenase activity detected. Among the non-starter lactobacilli the highest frequency of enzyme occurrence and activity was detected in the Lactobacillus plantarum isolates. The establishment of glutamate dehydrogenase-producing adjunct strains in the predominant population of lactobacilli in the cheese curd affected the formation of a number of volatile compounds in ripening cheddar cheese, while the presence of Lact. plantarum strains, in particular, was associated with an intensification and acceleration of aroma and flavour development during the maturation period. CONCLUSIONS: Glutamate dehydrogenase formation by lactobacilli is a strain-dependent metabolic attribute, and adjunct cultures expressing the activity that are able to proliferate during cheese ripening have a positive impact on the rate of development and the intensity of cheddar cheese aroma and flavour development. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It has been demonstrated that some strains of glutamate dehydrogenase-producing lactobacilli have potential use as adjunct cultures to accelerate and intensify aroma and flavour formation during the manufacture of cheddar and, by analogy, other similar varieties of cheese. The importance of phenotypic discriminative monitoring of the dominant lactobacilli present during ripening to confirm adjunct establishment and population complexity was highlighted as was the requirement to establish the metabolic attributes of the non-starter population in uninoculated control cheeses in comparative trials.

Cheese↗
PubMed1989

Potent NMDA-like actions and potentiation of glutamate responses by conformational variants of a glutamate analogue in the rat spinal cord.

1. Neuropharmacological actions of all possible-state isomers of alpha-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (CCG), conformationally restricted analogues of glutamate, were examined for electrophysiological effects in the isolated spinal cord of the newborn rat. 2. Eight CCG stereoisomers demonstrated a large variety of depolarizing activities. Among them, the (2R, 3S, 4S) isomers of CCG (D-CCG-II) showed the most potent depolarizing activity, followed by the (2S, 3R, 4S) isomer (L-CCG-IV). 3. The depolarization evoked by L-CCG-IV, D-CCG-II and other D-CCG isomers was effectively depressed by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists. D-CCG-II was about 5 times more potent than NMDA in causing a depolarization. 4. The (2S, 3S, 4S) isomer of CCG (L-CCG-I) was more potent than L-glutamate in causing a depolarization of spinal motoneurones. The depolarization was slightly depressed by NMDA antagonists, but residual amplitudes of responses to L-CCG-I in the presence of NMDA antagonists We almost insensitive to 6,7-dinitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) or 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), suggesting that L-CCG-I might be a novel potent agonist. 5. After application of the (2S, 3S, 4R) isomer of CCG (L-CCG-III), responses to L-glutamate, D- and L-aspartate were markedly enhanced. The enhancement lasted for a period of several hours without a further application of L-CCG-III. 6. L-CCG-III also caused a depolarization, but it seemed unlikely that the potentiation of the glutamate response was directly related to the depolarization evoked by L-CCG-III. 7. The potentiation might be due to inhibition of uptake processes, but L-CCG-III was superior to L-(-)-threo-3-hydroxyaspartate, a potent uptake inhibitor of L-glutamate and L-aspartate, in enhancing the response to L-glutamate in terms of amplitude and duration of responses. 8. CCG isomers should provide useful pharmacological tools for analysis of glutamate neurotransmitter systems.

Amino Acids, Dicarboxylic↗
PubMed1995

Staphylococcus haemolyticus contains two D-glutamic acid biosynthetic activities, a glutamate racemase and a D-amino acid transaminase.

Two D-glutamic acid biosynthetic activities, glutamate racemase and D-amino acid transaminase, have been described previously for bacteria. To date, no bacterial species has been reported to possess both activities. Genetic complementation studies using Escherichia coli WM335, a D-glutamic acid auxotroph, and cloned chromosomal DNA fragments from Staphylococcus haemolyticus revealed two distinct DNA fragments containing open reading frames which, when present, allowed growth on medium without exogenous D-glutamic acid. Amino acid sequences of the two open reading frames derived from the DNA nucleotide sequences indicated extensive identity with the amino acid sequence of Pediococcus pentosaceous glutamate racemase in one case and with that of the D-amino acid transaminase of Bacillus spp. in the second case. Enzymatic assays of lysates of E. coli WM335 strains containing either the cloned staphylococcal racemase or transminase verified the identities of these activities. Subsequent DNA hybridization experiments indicated that Staphylococcus aureus, in addition to S. haemolyticus, contained homologous chromosomal DNA for each of these genes. These data suggest that S. haemolyticus, and probably S. aureus, contains genes for two D-glutamic acid biosynthetic activities, a glutamate racemase (dga gene) and a D-amino acid transaminase (dat gene).

Amino Acid Isomerases↗