Behavioral Balance in Tryptophan Turmoil: Regional Metabolic Rewiring in Kynurenine Aminotransferase II Knockout Mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cognitive, emotional, and social impairments are pervasive across neuropsychiatric conditions, where alterations in the tryptophan (Trp)-kynurenine pathway and its product kynurenic acid (KYNA) from kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs) have been linked to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In novel CRISPR/Cas9-engineered KAT II knockout (aadat^-/- also known as kat2^-/-) mice, we observed despair-linked depression-like behavior with peripheral excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. KAT II's role and its crosstalk with serotonin, indole-pyruvate, and tyrosine-dopamine remain unclear. It is unknown whether deficits extend to cognitive, emotional, motor, and social domains or whether brain

SUBMITTER: Szabo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12607557 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature