Excitatory amino acid b-N-methylamino-L-alanine is a putative environmental neurotoxin

Abstract

The amino acid b-N-methylamino-L-alanine (L-BMAA) has been associated with the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex in three distinct western Pacific populations. The putative neurotoxin is produced by cyanobacteria, which live symbiotically in the roots of cycad trees. L-BMAA was thought to be a threat only to those few populations whose diet and medicines rely heavily on cycad seeds. However, the recent discovery that cyanobacteria from diverse terrestrial, freshwater, and saltwater ecosystems around the world produce the toxin requires a reassessment of whether it poses a larger health threat. Therefore, it is proposed that monitoring L-BMAA levels in cyanobacteria-contaminated water supplies might be prudent.

Keywords

• b-N-methylamino-L-alanine
• neurodegenerative diseases
• neurotoxicity
• environmental toxin