Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2002, 196 (3)

A Bromine Compound Existing in Blood

ISAMU YANAGISAWA and SHIZUO TORII¹

Department of Biochemistry, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-0022, and¹Department of Physiology, Medical School of Toho University, Tokyo 140-0042

Since a bromine compound with REM-sleep-inducing and anti-choline esterase activities have been isolated from human cerebrospinal fluid, and was identified as 1-methylheptyl g-bromoacetoacetate, the compound was chemically synthesized. It was found that this compound was composed with three forms, i.e., a keto-form, an enol-form that changed gradually from keto-form by tautomerism, and a stable six-membered ring form (=cyclic r-Br) converted from enol form, when it was chemically synthesized. In addition, it was found that the six-membered ring form of this bromine compound was present in the human blood. However, in this case, the keto-form and the enol-form were not detected. When ¹⁴C-butyrate was injected to rats, it was incorporated into the bromine compound in the blood of the animal and the bromine compound formed was found to be present mainly as the six-membered ring form. From these results, the mechanism for the formation of bromine compounds in human and animal blood were deduced.

Keywords —— bromine compound; 1-methylhepty g-bromoacetoacetate; cyclic g-Br

© 2002 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2002, 196, 111-121

Address for reprints: Dr. Isamu Yanagisawa, Chuou 1-45-3, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0011, Japan.

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