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N-Acetylaspartate In The Cns: From Neurodiagnostics To Neurobiology, John R. Moffett, Brian Ross, Peethambaran Arun, Chikkathur N. Madhavarao, Aryan M. A. Namboodiri

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

The brain is unique among organs in many respects, including its mechanisms of lipid synthesis and energy production. The nervous systemspecific metabolite N-acetylaspartate (NAA), which is synthesized from aspartate and acetyl-coenzyme A in neurons, appears to be a key link in these distinct biochemical features of CNS metabolism. During early postnatal central nervous system (CNS) development, the expression of lipogenic enzymes in oligodendrocytes, including the NAA-degrading enzyme aspartoacylase (ASPA), is increased along with increased NAA production in neurons. NAA is transported from neurons to the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes, where ASPA cleaves the acetate moiety for use in fatty acid …