Studies on the metabolism of beta-hydroxy- aspartic acid.

The content of beta-hydroxyaspartic acid was measured in the urine of man and several species of animals. The configuration of urinary beta-hydroxyaspartic acid was deduced to be L-erythro in form by chromatographic comparisons with authentic samples. An increased excretion of urinary beta-hydroxyaspartic acid was observed in cats when serine or thiamine was administered with glycine. Glycine-1-14C administered to rats was incorporated into the urinary beta-hydroxyaspartic acid. The formation of beta-hydroxyaspartic acid in pig-liver homogenate increased in the presence of glutamate and thiamine pyrophosphate. These results were discussed in relation to the author's working hypothesis on the biosynthesis of beta-hydroxyaspartic acid.