dihydroxyphenylglycine

Dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) is a synthetic amino acid derivative and a potent and selective agonist of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), specifically mGluR1 and mGluR5. The compound is primarily used in research to study glutamatergic neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. DHPG has been investigated for potential therapeutic effects in neuronal injury (such as ischemia or hypoxia), cognitive enhancement, and Alzheimer's disease. Its mechanism of action involves activation of group I mGluRs leading to downstream signaling events such as phosphoinositide hydrolysis[2][4][6]. Only the (S)-enantiomer exhibits significant biological activity at these receptors[2]. DHPG is not approved for clinical use but is widely utilized as a pharmacological tool in neuroscience research.

Other names

3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycinealpha-amino-3,5-dihydroxybenzeneacetic acidL-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine