Aminopropionitrile, also known as β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), is an organic compound with both amine and nitrile functional groups. It is a colourless liquid. The compound occurs naturally and is of interest in the biomedical community.
Biochemical and medical occurrence BAPN is the toxic constituent of peas from Lathyrus plants, e.g., Lathyrus odoratus. Lathyrism, a disease known for centuries, encompasses 2 distinct entities: a disorder of connective tissue, causing either bone deformity (osteolathyrism) or aortic aneurisms (angiolathyrim). BAPN causes osteolathyrism and angiolathyrism when ingested in large quantities." It can cause osteolathyrism, neurolathyrism, and/or angiolathyrism.
It is an antirheumatic agent in veterinary medicine.
It has attracted interest as an anticancer agent.Chvapil, Milos "Inhibition of breast adenocarcinoma growth by intratumoral injection of lipophilic long-acting lathyrogens" Anti-Cancer Drugs 2005, volume 16, 201-210.
Production Aminopropionitrile is prepared by the reaction of ammonia with acrylonitrile.Karsten Eller, Erhard Henkes, Roland Rossbacher, Hartmut Höke "Amines, Aliphatic" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2005.
See also Kashin-Beck disease Lysyl oxidase Marfan syndrome
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