The Metabolism of Thalidomide: Some Biological Effects of Thalidomide and Its Metabolites

In the preceding paper (Schumacher, Smith & Williams, 1965) it was shown that thalidomide was converted in the body into a number of compounds, several of which are derivatives of the amino acids, glutamic acid and glutamine. Since thalidomide is racemic, some of its breakdown products will, therefore, contain amino acid residues of the unnatural D-series. Any of the biological effects (embryotoxic, neurotoxic and sedative) of thalidomide could be due to the drug or its metabolites interfering with the normal metabolism of L-glutamine and L-glutamic acid. These amino acids are prominently involved in the metabolic activity of the central and peripheral nervous system There are indications, however, that they may be involved in morphogenesis