Tag: Boaa

Beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (BOAA), a potent neurotoxin discovered in the resilient grass pea legume, has historically been the cause of a debilitating paralytic disease known as neurolathyrism. This toxic compound, found in `Lathyrus sativus` seeds, has posed a significant health risk in regions facing famine where it is consumed as a dietary staple. The potential danger of BOAA underscores the critical importance of understanding its effects and mitigating its presence in food supplies.

Neurolathyrism, a debilitating motor neuron disease, is primarily caused by prolonged consumption of grass peas containing the neurotoxin BOAA. Understanding what enzyme does BOAA affect is crucial for unraveling its precise mechanism of action and developing strategies to mitigate its devastating effects on the central nervous system.

As a remarkable drought-resistant legume, the grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a critical 'insurance crop' for many communities, yet it contains the neurotoxin BOAA. This compound is responsible for neurolathyrism, a paralytic disease, posing a significant challenge to food safety in regions heavily reliant on this pulse.

Neurolathyrism, a devastating motor neuron disease, is caused by consuming large quantities of the chickling pea, a reliable crop during famines. The specific culprit is the neurotoxin $\beta$-N-oxalyl-L-$\alpha$,$\beta$-diaminopropionic acid (BOAA), which acts primarily by inhibiting the mitochondrial enzyme complex I. This inhibition disrupts cellular respiration and leads to a cascade of events causing neuronal damage.

Epidemics of neurolathyrism have historically crippled thousands during times of famine, making it vital to understand what toxin is responsible for neurolathyrism. The crippling disease is caused by a potent neurotoxic amino acid found in a highly resilient, drought-resistant legume known as the grass pea.