Re: Andy: why does ALA cross the BBB?

[Guest guest]

Hi Moria,

Moria Merriweather wrote:

> To Andy (or anyone else who is up to chemical explanations):

>

> I'm wondering what it is about the BBB and about ALA that

> makes it such that ALA crosses the BBB (and other chelators

> don't).

cell membranes are made of what are called phospholipid bi-layers, rather

simplifying that, they are composed of fats

they act to regulate what's gets into and out of a cell,(to regulate pH or

other element levels).

Im sure you know how water and fat react. they repel each other.

DMSA is more water soluble, so its chance of passing through the cell

membranes (the barrier of fat) is slim.

Its more likely to be repelled.

ALA is supposedly more fat soluble and I think (Andy would confirm this) its

lipid (fat) based. SO,

theoretically it is more likely to be able to pass the lipid/fat based

barrier/ membranes.

Ive read conflicting things about whether DMSP can do that or not. I dont

know about that one.

There are other carriers/transport mechanisms that are imbedded in cell

membranes which can allow the passage of some things (like K in some

instances) which help regulate pH balance and such. They could be a source of

how a chelator MIGHT cross that barrier but honestly I dont know that. I have

not read anything to indicate that anyone does know of one.

> It may be that the answer is " we don't know " , that it is

> simply an observation that it is so. But, thought you might

> have some thoughts on this.

>

> Thank you, always.

>

> Moria

That's my understanding of it. Help me if Im wrong.

[Guest guest]

> To Andy (or anyone else who is up to chemical explanations):

>

> I'm wondering what it is about the BBB and about ALA that

> makes it such that ALA crosses the BBB (and other chelators

> don't).

It is well known for all classes of drugs.

Lipophilic things cross the BBB readily.

Hydrophilic (lipophobic) things do not, except in the rare instances

where there is an active transport protein that accidentally imports

them instead of what it is supposed to import.

Ampiphilic (both lipophilic and hydrophilic) things also cross

readily.

ALA is lipophilic.

DMSA and DMPS are hydrophilic.

ALA crosses the BBB, DMSA and DMPS do not.

>

> It may be that the answer is " we don't know " , that it is

> simply an observation that it is so. But, thought you might

> have some thoughts on this.

>

> Thank you, always.

>

> Moria

[Guest guest]

,

From my memory of cell membranes, you did a good job of getting the basics. My

memory is so poor that I hesitated to answer the question.

Carmen