Kainic acid (synthetic)

Biological Activity

Kainic acid, also known as kainate, is a selective agonist of kainate ionotropic glutamate receptors (EC₅₀ = 0.6 μM - 7.4 μM) and a partial agonist at AMPA receptors (EC₅₀ = 31 μM - 170 μM). Kainic acid is used to model epilepsy in vivo and to study the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neurocytosis induced by excess stimulation by kainic acid. Kainate is shown to be involved in amyloidogenic processing of amyloid precursor protein and Aβ peptides in Alzheimer's. Synthetic version of Kainic acid (Cat. No. 0222)

Related compounds include the kainate receptor agonist Domoic acid (Cat. No. 0269) and the antagonist NBQX (Cat. No. 0373).

Technical Data

The technical data provided above is for guidance only. For batch specific data refer to the Certificate of Analysis.
Tocris products are intended for laboratory research use only, unless stated otherwise.

Background References

1. Excitatory amino acids.
   Watkins
   Kainic acid as a Tool in Neurobiology. Edited by E, 1978;:37
2. Excitatory amino acid transmitters.
   Watkins and Evans
   Annu.Rev.Pharmacol.Toxicol., 1981;21:165

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