N-acetyl-L-asparagine in human brain

A substance identical with N-acetyl-L-asparagine was isolated in pure form from an aqueous extract of human brain. The substance was isolated by a combination of an ion exchange and paper chromatography. The substance reacts avidly with chlorine-starch-iodide but does not react with ninhydrin. Upon acid hydrolysis it yields only aspartic acid and ammonia. An acetyl hydrazide was identified by paper chromatography. The unknown had the L-configuration. The results of elementary analysis of the isolated compound were in full accord with the analysis calculated for authentic N-acetyl-L-asparagine.