N-Methyl-L-aspartic acid (CAS 4226-18-0)

N-Methyl-L-aspartic acid, referred to as NMLA, is a derivative of the amino acid, distinguished by the addition of a methyl group to the nitrogen atom of the carboxyl group. This compound is incorporated in scientific research, particularly in the field of neuroscience, as it is a part of several neurotransmitter receptors and contributes significantly to the control of numerous physiological processes. N-Methyl-L-aspartic acid is an essential element of various neurotransmitter receptors, including the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and the metabotropic glutamate receptor, which makes it a widely used agent in scientific investigations. Additionally, it′s instrumental in research concerning neuronal plasticity, learning and memory, and synaptic plasticity. As an agonist of the NMDA receptor—a glutamate receptor that significantly influences neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity—N-Methyl-L-aspartic acid binds to and activates the NMDA receptor. This activation prompts a surge of calcium ions into the cell, which subsequently increases the activity of several enzymes, including protein kinases and phosphatases. These enzymes then induce alterations in the expression of genes related to neuronal plasticity.