The metabolism and environmental fate of the cyanobacterial neurotoxin Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine

The neurotoxic amino acid β-­‐N-­‐methylamino-L­alanine (BMAA)is present in environmentally ubiquitous cyanobacteria and bioaccumulates and biomagnifies within the environment. The implication of BMAA in the development of neurodegenerative disease has raised concerns over the potential risk of human exposure to this neurotoxin, and has focussed attention on identifying possible routes of exposure that include direct contact with cyanobacteria and the ingestion of BMAA-­‐containing plant and animal products