NAA does not have a specific drug target but is a key metabolite in the brain. It is a substrate for the enzyme aspartoacylase (ASPA), which hydrolyzes NAA to aspartate and acetate. This reaction is critical for the maintenance of myelin in the central nervous system. NAA is also a precursor for the synthesis of NAAG, which acts as an agonist at metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR3). The compound is used as a biomarker for neuronal health and integrity.

NAA is involved in neuronal energy metabolism, serving as a source of acetate for myelin synthesis. It is also involved in osmoregulation in neurons. The compound is a precursor for the synthesis of NAAG, which acts as a neurotransmitter and modulates glutamatergic signaling. NAA levels are used as a biomarker for neuronal health, and decreased NAA levels are associated with various neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke.

NAA is a normal constituent of the brain and is present in high concentrations. In vivo, NAA is synthesized in neurons and transported to oligodendrocytes, where it is hydrolyzed by aspartoacylase to provide acetate for myelin synthesis. Decreased NAA levels are observed in various neurological disorders and are used as a biomarker for neuronal dysfunction. The compound has been studied for its potential therapeutic applications in neurological disorders.

The in vitro assay for NAA typically involves the measurement of NAA levels using analytical techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS), or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The compound can be quantified in biological samples such as brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, or cell culture media. Enzyme assays for aspartoacylase activity may also be performed using NAA as a substrate.

The in vitro cellular assay for NAA typically involves culturing neuronal cells or oligodendrocytes and treating them with NAA or related compounds. Cellular responses such as NAA uptake, metabolism, or effects on cell viability and differentiation are assessed. The compound's effects on neuronal energy metabolism and myelin synthesis may be evaluated. The compound is also used as a standard in analytical methods for quantifying NAA levels in biological samples.

In vivo animal studies for NAA typically involve the administration of the compound to rodents via various routes (e.g., intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular). The compound's effects on brain metabolism, myelin synthesis, and neurological function are assessed. NAA levels in the brain are measured using analytical techniques, and the compound's potential therapeutic effects in models of neurological disorders are evaluated.

NAA is a small molecule with a molecular weight of 175.14 g/mol and a molecular formula of C6H9NO5. It is highly soluble in water. The compound is synthesized in neurons and transported to oligodendrocytes for myelin synthesis. It has a short half-life and is rapidly metabolized by aspartoacylase. NAA levels in the brain are used as a biomarker for neuronal health and integrity.

NAA is generally considered safe and is a normal constituent of the brain. It is not associated with significant toxicity at physiological concentrations. However, elevated NAA levels may be associated with certain metabolic disorders. The compound is intended for research use and as a biochemical standard. Standard safety precautions should be followed when handling the compound in the laboratory.

[1]. N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid: a literature review of a compound prominent in 1H-NMR spectroscopic studies of brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 1989 Spring;13(1):23-31.

N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid is an N-acyl-L-aspartic acid, where the acyl group is specifically defined as an acetyl group. It possesses nutritional and health-promoting, antioxidant, and metabolic functions in humans, mice, and rats. It is an N-acetyl-L-amino acid and N-acyl-L-aspartic acid. It is the conjugate acid of N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid (2-). N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid is present in or produced by Escherichia coli (K12 strain, MG1655 strain). It has been reported that N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid exists in humans and Caenorhabditis elegans, with relevant data. N-acetyl-aspartic acid is the acetylated form of aspartic acid, synthesized in the mitochondria of neurons from aspartic acid and acetyl-CoA. Although N-acetyl-aspartic acid is highly enriched in neurons, its exact biological function remains unclear. N-acetyl-aspartic acid can serve as a neuronal marker; its levels are reduced in the brain under many neuropathological conditions. N-acetylaspartate is a derivative of aspartate. It is the second most concentrated molecule in the brain, after the amino acid glutamate. It is synthesized from the amino acid aspartate and acetyl-CoA in neurons. The various functions of N-acetylaspartate are still under investigation, but its main functions include: 1) acting as a neuronal osmotic regulator, participating in the brain's fluid homeostasis; 2) serving as a source of acetate required for lipid and myelin synthesis in oligodendrocytes (glial cells that form the axons of myelinated neurons); 3) serving as a precursor for the synthesis of the important neuronal dipeptide N-acetylaspartylglutamate; and 4) N-acetylaspartate may also participate in the process of energy production from the amino acid glutamate in neuronal mitochondria.
NAA is a derivative of aspartic acid and is the second most abundant amino acid in the mammalian brain. It is synthesized in neurons from aspartic acid and acetyl-CoA. The compound is involved in neuronal energy metabolism, osmoregulation, and myelination. It is also a precursor for the synthesis of NAAG, which acts as a neurotransmitter. NAA levels are used as a biomarker for neuronal health and are decreased in various neurological disorders. The compound is used in research as a standard for analytical methods.

C6H9NO5

175.1394

175.048

997-55-7

65065

White to off-white solid powder

1.5±0.1 g/cm3

329.1±52.0 °C at 760 mmHg

137-140 °C(lit.)

152.8±30.7 °C

0.0±1.6 mmHg at 25°C

1.538

-0.09

3

5

4

12

212

1

CC(=O)N[C@@H](CC(=O)O)C(=O)O

OTCCIMWXFLJLIA-BYPYZUCNSA-N

InChI=1S/C6H9NO5/c1-3(8)7-4(6(11)12)2-5(9)10/h4H,2H2,1H3,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)(H,11,12)/t4-/m0/s1

(2S)-2-acetamidobutanedioic acid

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

H2O : ~62.5 mg/mL (~356.86 mM)
DMSO : ~5 mg/mL (~28.55 mM)

Solubility in Formulation 1: 12.5 mg/mL (71.37 mM) in PBS (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution; with sonication.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)