�-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (L-BOAA) is a chemical found in the chickling pea, Lathyrus sativus. The consumption of the peas has caused Lathyrism, a neurological disease involving partial loss of motor ability in the lower limbs. Preliminary studies that investigated the locomotory behaviors of fruit flies fed various concentrations of the structurally similar neurotoxin �-Methylamino-L-alanine (L-BMAA) showed a dose-dependent decrease. Under the same conditions, L-BOAA did not cause a change in locomotor ability or viability. No effect was observed when BOAA was applied directly to the nerve cord of decapitated fruit flies. Locomotor assays were conducted under malnutrition conditions using fly food containing less yeast. These assays showed that a less abundant diet results in the BOAA causing a stronger decrease in the locomotor ability of fruit flies. This suggests that BOAA is relatively safe under a healthy diet but can lead to a decline in locomotor ability when the diet is suppressed.

Effects of β-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (BOAA) on the viability and locomotory behavior of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

245th National Meeting (2013)

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Effects of β-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (BOAA) on the viability and locomotory behavior of Drosophila melanogaster