Homochirality and life |
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Authors: | Fujii Noriko Saito Takeshi |
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Institution: | Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University Kumatori, Sennan, Osaka 590-0494, Japan. nfujii@HL.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp |
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Abstract: | Before the emergence of life, left-handed amino acids (L-enantiomers) were selected and right-handed amino acids (D-enantiomers) were eliminated on the primal earth. Nevertheless, with the progress of analytical methods, D-amino acids have recently been found in higher order living organisms in the form of free amino acids, peptides, and proteins. Free D-amino acids have numerous physiological functions. D-amino acids containing animal peptides are well known as opioid peptides. D-amino acids in protein are related to aging. In this review, we describe the D-amino acids that are present and function as D-amino acid biosystems in our bodies. |
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Keywords: | homochirality D‐amino acids racemization aging differentiation neuropeptide neuromodulator |
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