Book Description:
D-Amino acids are stereoisomers or optical isomers of naturally occurring L-amino acids. D Amino acids and L-amino acids have almost the same physical and chemical properties. D-Amino acids have been considered to be unnatural substances that are produced only when we synthesize amino acids in laboratories or factories. Indeed, equal amounts of D-amino acids and L-amino acids (racemic mixture) are produced by chemical synthesis. Until recently, living organisms were thought to contain exclusively L-amino acids. Before the emergence of life, D- and L-amino acids should have existed on the primitive earth, because amino acids are considered to be produced under the conditions of high temperature, high pressure and lightning. It is an interesting and important question why D-amino acids were eliminated and organisms have evolved using only L-amino acids. This mystery has not been solved. D-Amino acids have been considered exceptional amino acids that exist only in prokaryotes and a part of lower organisms. However, the development and improvement of analytical instruments and methods have revealed that D-amino acids are present in organisms far more in the amount and extent than previously considered. It has become clear that D-amino acids are present in invertebrates and vertebrates including humans and that some of D-amino acids have important physiological functions. Biological systems for synthesis and degradation of D-amino acids have also been found.Volume 3 is dedicated to D-amino acids in peptides and proteins.

Table of Contents:
Preface

Chapter 1
An Essay on D-Amino Acids: Retrospection and Perspective, pp. 1-16

Chapter 2
Detection of the Specific D-Aspartic Acid Residues in Protein, pp. 17-32

Chapter 3
Detection of Amyloid Beta-Peptides with L-Isoaspartate in Alzheimer’s Disease, pp. 33-40

Chapter 4
Detection of D-Amino Acid in Peptides by RP-HPLC and Mass Spectrometry, pp. 41-46


Chapter 5
Determination of D-Amino-Acid Residues in Peptides from Animal Venom by NMR: Application to Platypus Venom Peptide OvCNPs, pp. 47-58

Chapter 6
Protein L-Isoaspartyl-O-Methyltransferase Catalyzes in situ Formation of D-Aspartate and D-Isoaspartate in Proteins, pp. 59-68


Chapter 7
Purification of a Novel Mammalian Proteinase for D-Aspartate-Containing Protein, D-Aspartyl Endopeptidase (DAEP), pp. 69-72


Chapter 8
Micro-Purification and Structural
Assay of Poly-Gamma-Glutamate, a D-Amino Acid-Containing Biopolymer, pp. 73-78


Chapter 9
Estimation of Chronological Age using the Aspartic Acid Racemization Method on Dentin Samples, pp. 79-84

Chapter 10
The Use of D-Amino Acids in Peptide Design, pp. 85-102

Chapter 11
Cellular Approach of the Biogenesis of D-Amino-Acid Containing Peptides in Eukaryotes: The Crustacean Model, pp. 103-114

Chapter 12
Detection Of D-Beta-Asp Containing Proteins in Paraffin-Embedded Ocular Samples Using Anti-D-Beta-Asp Containing Protein Antibodies, pp. 115-120

Index, pp. 121