β-°¿¶Ù´¡±Ê stands forÌýL-β-N-oxalyl-α,β-diaminopropionic acid. Also calledÌýL-β-oxalylaminoanaline, it is an analogue of the neurotransmitter glutamic acid.
β-°¿¶Ù´¡±Ê is a neurotoxin that causes lathyrism, a disease in which neurons in the lumbar spine deteriorate, paralyzing the legs of humans and other mammals. The name lathyrism comes from the grass peaÌýLathyrus sativusÌýand other plants of theÌý³¢²¹³Ù³ó²â°ù³Ü²õÌýgenus that contain β-°¿¶Ù´¡±Ê.
β-°¿¶Ù´¡±Ê is purported to haveÌý, the subject of the book and filmÌýInto the Wild. The controversy revolves around whether β-°¿¶Ù´¡±Ê is present in the seeds of the Alaskan wild potatoÌýHedysarum alpinumÌýthat McCandless may have eaten. Thus far, analytical studies, chiefly by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry methods, have been inconclusive. Stay tuned!
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