4-methylcyclohexylamine

4-MCHA (4-methylcyclohexylamine) is a small molecule inhibitor of spermidine synthase (SRM), an enzyme critical to the polyamine biosynthetic pathway. It functions by blocking the conversion of putrescine into spermidine. In neurological research, particularly concerning epilepsy, 4-MCHA is used to modulate astrocytic metabolism. By inhibiting spermidine synthesis, the compound promotes the shunting of putrescine toward the production of GABA within astrocytes. This increased GABA is subsequently released into the extracellular space via GAT-2/3 transporters, providing enhanced tonic inhibition to neurons. Experimental studies in animal models, such as the WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy, have demonstrated that 4-MCHA can effectively prevent seizure generation, suggesting that targeting the astrocytic polyamine-GABA pathway may be a viable strategy for antiepileptic drug development.

Other names

trans-4-methylcyclohexylaminetrans4-methylcyclohexylaminetrans 4-methylcyclohexylamine4-methylcyclohexan-1-amine