dihydrokainate

Dihydrokainate (DHK) is a synthetic derivative of kainic acid that serves as a potent and selective inhibitor of the **Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 (EAAT2)**, also known as **Glutamate Transporter 1 (GLT-1)** in rodents. Unlike its parent compound, DHK exhibits negligible activity at ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPA, kainate, or NMDA) at concentrations that effectively block glutamate transport. By selectively inhibiting the primary transporter responsible for clearing glutamate from the synaptic cleft in the mammalian central nervous system, DHK is a vital pharmacological tool for investigating the role of glutamate homeostasis in synaptic plasticity and neurotoxicity. It is frequently employed in disease models of **Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)** and epilepsy, where impaired EAAT2 function is a recognized pathological feature.

Other names

DHKdihydrokainic acid(2S,3S,4R)-3-(carboxymethyl)-4-isopropylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid