ADDA ((all-''S'',all-''E'')-3-amino-9-methoxy-2,6,8-trimethyl-10-phenyldeca-4,6-dienoic acid) is a
non-proteinogenic amino acid
In biochemistry, non-coded or non-proteinogenic amino acids are distinct from the 22 proteinogenic amino acids (21 in eukaryotesplus formylmethionine in eukaryotes with prokaryote organelles like mitochondria), which are naturally encoded in the ...
found in toxins made by
cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria ( ) are a group of autotrophic gram-negative bacteria that can obtain biological energy via oxygenic photosynthesis. The name "cyanobacteria" () refers to their bluish green (cyan) color, which forms the basis of cyanobacteri ...
. Toxins which include this amino acid include
microcystin
Microcystins—or cyanoginosins—are a class of cyanotoxins, which are toxins produced by cyanobacteria, sometimes known as blue-green algae. Over 250 different microcystins have been discovered so far, of which microcystin-LR is the most commo ...
s and
nodularin
Nodularins are potent toxins produced by the cyanobacterium ''Nodularia spumigena'', among others. This aquatic, photosynthetic cyanobacterium forms visible colonies that present as algal blooms in brackish water bodies throughout the world. The l ...
s.
Along with leucine and arginine, it is found in
microcystin-LR
Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a toxin produced by cyanobacteria. It is the most toxic of the microcystins.
Structure
Microcystins are cyclic heptapeptides. The seven amino acids that are involved in the structure of a microcystin include the unique ...
, an extremely toxic compound produced by cyanobacteria. In order to treat a water supply contaminated with microcystin-LR,
chlorination can be used to oxidize the double bonds of ADDA in order to initiate the chemical breakdown of this compound.
References
Beta-Amino acids
Non-proteinogenic amino acids
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