n-methyl-d-aspartic acid n-methyl-d-aspartic acid n-methyl-d-aspartic acid or n-methyl-d-aspartate (nmda) is an amino acid derivative that acts as a specific agonist at the nmda receptor mimicking the action of glutamate, the neurotransmitter which normally acts at that receptor. unlike glutamate, nmda only binds to and regulates the nmda receptor and has no effect on other glutamate receptors (such as those for ampa and kainate). nmda receptors are particularly important when they become overactive during, for example, withdrawal from alcohol as this causes symptoms such as agitation and, sometimes, epileptiform seizures. not to be confused with mdma or n-nitrosodimethylamine. n-methyl-d-aspartic acid names iupac name n-methyl-d-aspartic acid systematic iupac name (2r)-2-(methylamino)butanedioic acid other names n-methylaspartate; n-methyl-d-aspartate; nmda identifiers cas number 6384-92-5 y 3d model (jsmol) interactive image beilstein reference 1724431 chebi chebi:31882 y chembl chembl291278 y chemspider 21436 y iuphar/bps 4268 kegg c12269 y mesh n-methylaspartate pubchem cid 22880 rtecs number ci9457000 unii 1903b9q6pi y comptox dashboard (epa) dtxsid8041082 inchi inchi=1 s/c5h9no4/c1-6-3(5(9)10)2-4(7)8/h3,6h,2h2,1h3,(h,7,8)(h,9,10)/t3-/m1/s1key: hokkhzgpkslgje-gsvougtgsa-n smiles cn(cc(=o)o)c(=o)o properties chemical formula c5h9no4 molar mass 147.130 g·mol−1 appearance white, opaque crystals odor odorless melting point 189 to 190 °c (372 to 374 °f; 462 to 463 k) log p 1.39 acidity (pka) 2.206 basicity (pkb) 11.791 hazards lethal dose or concentration (ld, lc): ld50 (median dose) 137 mg kg−1 (intraperitoneal, mouse) related compounds related amino acid derivatives sarcosinedimethylglycinebeta-methylamine-l-alanine related compounds dimethylacetamide except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °c , 100 kpa). y verify (what is yn ?) infobox references biological function in 1962, j.c. watkins reported synthesizing nmda, an isomer of the previously known n-methyl-dl-aspartic-acid (pubchem id 4376). nmda is a water-soluble d-alpha-amino acid — an aspartic acid derivative with an n-methyl substituent and d-configuration — found across animalia from lancelets to mammals. at homeostatic levels nmda plays an essential role as a neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine regulator. at increased but sub–toxic levels nmda becomes neuro-protective. in excessive amounts nmda is an excitotoxin. behavioral neuroscience research utilizes nmda excitotoxicity to induce lesions in specific regions of an animal subject's brain or spinal cord to study behavioral changes. the mechanism of action for the nmda receptor is a specific agonist binding to its nr2 subunits, and then a non-specific cation channel is opened, which can allow the passage of ca2+ and na+ into the cell and k+ out of the cell. therefore, nmda receptors will only open if glutamate is in the synapse and concurrently the postsynaptic membrane is already depolarized - acting as coincidence detectors at the neuronal level. the excitatory postsynaptic potential (epsp) produced by activation of an nmda receptor also increases the concentration of ca2+ in the cell. the ca2+ can in turn function as a second messenger in various signaling pathways. this process is modulated by a number of endogenous and exogenous compounds and plays a key role in a wide range of physiological (such as memory) and pathological processes (such as excitotoxicity). nmda receptor activated antagonists main article: nmda receptor antagonist examples of antagonists, or more appropriately named receptor channel blockers, of the nmda receptor are apv, amantadine, dextromethorphan (dxm), ketamine, magnesium, tiletamine, phencyclidine (pcp), riluzole, memantine, methoxetamine (mxe), methoxphenidine (mxp) and kynurenic acid. while dizocilpine is generally considered to be the prototypical nmda receptor blocker and is the most common agent used in research, animal studies have demonstrated some amount of neurotoxicity, which may or may not also occur in humans. these compounds are commonly referred to as nmda receptor antagonists.