Carnosine and homocarnosine, the forgotten, enigmatic peptides of the brain
ReviewOther animals
- Design
- Review
- What was measured
- Review of carnosine and homocarnosine synthesis and uptake in primary brain cell cultures, including the PepT2 transporter and a fluorescent dipeptide reporter.
What the authors reported
In primary culture, synthesis and uptake of carnosine were shown to occur exclusively in glial cells, with uptake mediated by a high-affinity, energy-dependent dipeptide transporter later identified as PepT2. A fluorescent reporter dipeptide (beta-Ala-Lys-N-epsilon-AMCA) allowed accumulation to be tracked in astroglia, pituitary folliculostellate cells and gonadal macrophages. The physiological functions of the dipeptides remain unknown.
Limits of this study
Narrative review of the author's own cell culture work. Abstract only.
Source
PubMed 16341596 · doi:10.1007/s11064-005-8806-z
Entry checked against PubMed abstract (E-utilities) on 2026-10-19. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.