4350 L-Glutamic acid Glutamic acid (Glu), also referred to as glutamate (the anion), is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids. It is not among the essential amino acids. Glutamate is a key molecule in cellular metabolism. In humans, dietary proteins are broken down by digestion into amino acids, which serves as metabolic fuel or other functional roles in the body. Glutamate is the most abundant fast excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian nervous system. At chemical synapses, glutamate is stored in vesicles. Nerve impulses trigger release of glutamate from the pre-synaptic cell. In the opposing post-synaptic cell, glutamate receptors, such as the NMDA receptor, bind glutamate and are activated. Because of its role in synaptic plasticity, it is believed that glutamic acid is involved in cognitive functions like learning and memory in the brain. Glutamate transporters are found in neuronal and glial membranes. They rapidly remove glutamate from the extracellular space. In brain injury or disease, they can work in reverse and excess glutamate can accumulate outside cells. This process causes calcium ions to enter cells via NMDA receptor channels, leading to neuronal damage and eventual cell death, and is called excitotoxicity. The mechanisms of cell death include: * Damage to mitochondria from excessively high intracellular Ca2+. * Glu/Ca2+-mediated promotion of transcription factors for pro-apoptotic genes, or downregulation of transcription factors for anti-apoptotic genes. Excitotoxicity due to glutamate occurs as part of the ischemic cascade and is associated with stroke and diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, lathyrism, and Alzheimer's disease. glutamic acid has been implicated in epileptic seizures. Microinjection of glutamic acid into neurons produces spontaneous depolarization around one second apart, and this firing pattern is similar to what is known as paroxysmal depolarizing shift in epileptic attacks. This change in the resting membrane potential at seizure foci could cause spontaneous opening of voltage activated calcium channels, leading to glutamic acid release and further depolarization. 56-86-0 33032 C5H9NO4 147.13 White powder. 224 dec°C 8570 mg/L (at 25°C) Absorbed from the lumen of the small intestine into the enterocytes.Absorption is efficient and occurs by an active transport mechanism. Glutamate activates both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors. The ionotropic ones being non-NMDA (AMPA and kainate) and NMDA receptors. Free glutamic acid cannot cross the blood-brain barrier in appreciable quantities; instead it is converted into L-glutamine, which the brain uses for fuel and protein synthesis. It is conjectured that glutamate is involved in cognitive functions like learning and memory in the brain, though excessive amounts may cause neuronal damage associated in diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, lathyrism, and Alzheimer's disease. Also, the drug phencyclidine (more commonly known as PCP) antagonizes glutamate at the NMDA receptor, causing behavior reminiscent of schizophrenia. Glutamate in action is extremely difficult to study due to its transient nature. Hepatic No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC). Considered to be nature's "Brain food" by improving mental capacities; helps speed the healing of ulcers; gives a "lift" from fatigue; helps control alcoholism, schizophrenia and the craving for sugar. 2014-08-29T06:16:44Z 2026-05-14T16:24:14Z L-Glutamic_Acid C00025 16015 GLT DB00142 GGL true N[C@@H](CCC(O)=O)C(O)=O C5H9NO4 InChI=1S/C5H9NO4/c6-3(5(9)10)1-2-4(7)8/h3H,1-2,6H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)/t3-/m0/s1 WHUUTDBJXJRKMK-VKHMYHEASA-N 147.1293 147.053157781 Endogenous Solid -3.69 HMDB00148 CHEMBL575060 30572 <p>Nobuharu Tujimoto, Yoshimi Kikuchi, Osamu Kurahashi, Yoshiko Kawahara, &#8220;Mutant Escherichia coli capable of enhanced L-glutamic acid production.&#8221; U.S. Patent US5393671, issued August, 1960.</p> CHEM003256 DTXSID5020659 NS00095129 (2S)-2-aminopentanedioic acid 100.61999999999999 31.287699999999997 13.321186860931029 4 5 3 1.8777772810395925 9.536217151721162 -1 0 -3.54 -0.26 8.06e+01 g/l