Kainic Acid, A Useful Tool for Neuroscience Research, Becomes Widely Available

Kainic acid, a useful tool in neurological research, is now widely available to researchers around the world. Ocean Produce International (OPI) and Diagnostic Chemicals Limited (DCL) have joined together to address the world shortage of this material. OPI, through plant culture techniques, and DCL, through natural product extraction and purification techniques, have jointly been able to secure sufficient material to meet world demand by providing a high quality product, trade named OPIKA-1 Kainic Acid. Traditional sources of kainic acid from natural sources had been available through 1995, when large scale production of the material ceased. The reason for the diminished production are not entirely clear, but two factors seem to have contributed. First, the largest application for the material was, in fact, pharmaceutical, where it was used as a traditional anti-worming agent. When superior products appeared, kainic acid production diminished. Concurrently, the natural source of the material, the red algae Digenea simplex, harvested between Taiwan and the Philippines, became more difficult to secure, as the harvest area is in disputed territory. Inventories from the traditional sources became depleted through 1998. Although other products were attempted to be substituted, kainic acid is by far the best tool for its field of application. Kainic acid is an excitatory amino acid, able to act specifically on a sub group of glutamate receptors to create a neurological response. At low concentrations, this specificity is useful as a tool for analysis in the study of brain chemistry. At higher concentrations, it has the ability to cause seizures in animals, and ultimately to damage live brain cells. Consequently, it has application in the study of epilepsy, degenerative brain disease such as Alzheimer's Disease, other dementia and stroke. The breakthrough in availability orchestrated by DCL and OPI comes as a result of their abilities to take advantage of their unique strengths which together compliment each other. OPI was investigating a mutant strain of an algae, Palmaria palmatta, for its potential to supply value added products of nutritional or pharmaceutical utility. This particular strain produces high levels of kainic acid, among other interesting and unique products. OPI has developed the ability to grow the algae in culture in greenhouses, controlling the growth conditions to stimulate consistent high levels of kainic acid, avoiding variability that can potentially plague wild sources. Because this algae is a mutant strain which grows vegetatively rather than through sexual reproduction, the genetic purity is maintained. In addition, the mutant is not widely available, so OPI has a unique supply position. DCL has for many years been a prime supplier of another excitatory amino acid, domoic acid, which is a close relative of kainic acid. Domoic acid was developed following an episode of shellfish poisonings in Eastern Canada in 1987. DCL developed the ability to isolate the product from the contaminated mussel meat. The same broad technology can be used to isolate the kainic acid from the plant algae. DCL, as a chemical manufacturer, also has the capability to perform extensive chemical analysis on the isolated material, thus assuring product quality. This is particularly important for kainic acid, as contamination could be quite critical. For example, glutamic acid present in kainic acid preparations would be expected to interfere in the intended response. DCL has determined that there is no detectable level of glutamate or aspartate in the naturally extracted kainic acid prepared from P. palmata. Together, DCL and OPI are able to provide kilo quantities of natural kainic acid. This quantity should provide the world research community with an ample, assured availability to conduct critical research. While synthetic materials are beginning to appear, the price and assured long term quality and supply have been questioned. The neurological community will welcome the re-emergence of this valuable tool as work in this area can now proceed without delay.
Gary Reid, Ph.D.Vice President, Research & Business Development, Biochemical Division