Glutamate

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Glutamate (Glu) or L-glutamate or L-Glutamic acid is an amino acid and the most common excitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system.[1][2] Glutamate has a wide range of different functions, and as a result of this glutamate dysfunction can cause very serious effects on disease and injury.[3] Glutamate is regarded as a non-essential amino acid, meaning it can be generated by the body from other amino acids, also it can also be taken as a nutritional supplement.[4]

Glutamatergic system[edit | edit source]

The glutamateric system has its own receptors, which are throughout the brain and spinal cord, in neurons (nerve cells) and glia. Glutamate pathways are linked to many other neurotransmitter pathways.[5]

Other amino acid neurotransmitters[edit | edit source]

The other amino acids that act as neurotransmitters are GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which is a product of glutamate, and glycine (Gly).

Function[edit | edit source]

Glutamate has a range of roles in the human body, including:

  • activating the recognition of savory taste, known as umami, e.g. when food containing monosodium glutamate (MSG, or additive E620) is eaten[2][6]
  • enhancing memory and learning[7]
  • glutamate increases when levels of emotional stress increase[3]
  • has major roles in metabolism, including nitrogen elimination[8][4]
  • glutamate toxicity is linked to a number of neurodegenerative diseases[9]

Excitotoxicity[edit | edit source]

Glutamate can excite neurons to their death, which is known as glutamate excitotoxicity.[6]

ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

Dietary supplements[edit | edit source]

Too much glutamate or too little can be harmful.[6]

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Betts, JG; Young, KA; Wise, JA; Johnson, E; Poe, B; Kruse, DH; Korol, O; Johnson, JE; Womble, M; DeSaix, P (April 23, 2013). "12.5 Communication Between Neurons". Anatomy and Physiology. OpenStax. Houston, Texas. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Betts, JG; Young, KA; Wise, JA; Johnson, E; Poe, B; Kruse, DH; Korol, O; Johnson, JE; Womble, M; DeSaix, P (April 23, 2013). "14.1 Sensory Perception". Anatomy and Physiology. OpenStax. Houston, Texas. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Spielman RM, Jenkins WJ, Lovett MD (April 22, 2020). "8.2 Parts of the Brain Involved with Memory". Psychology 2e. Houston, Texas: OpenStax.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Cynober, Luc (2018). "Metabolism of Dietary Glutamate in Adults". Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 73 (5): 5–14. doi:10.1159/000494776. ISSN 0250-6807. PMID 30508813.
  5. Institute of Medicine (US) Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders (2011). Overview of the Glutamatergic System. National Academies Press (US).
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Zhou, Y.; Danbolt, N.C. (2014). "Glutamate as a neurotransmitter in the healthy brain". Journal of Neural Transmission. 121 (8): 799–817. doi:10.1007/s00702-014-1180-8. ISSN 0300-9564. PMC 4133642. PMID 24578174.
  7. Spielman RM, Jenkins WJ, Lovett MD (April 22, 2020). "3.2 Cells of the Nervous System". Psychology 2e. Houston, Texas: OpenStax.
  8. Walker, Mark C.; van der Donk, Wilfred A. (March 2016). "The Many Roles of Glutamate in Metabolism". Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology. 43 (0): 419–430. doi:10.1007/s10295-015-1665-y. ISSN 1367-5435. PMC 4753154. PMID 26323613.
  9. Lewerenz, Jan; Maher, Pamela (2015). "Chronic Glutamate Toxicity in Neurodegenerative Diseases—What is the Evidence?". Frontiers in Neuroscience. 9: 469. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00469. ISSN 1662-453X. PMC 4679930. PMID 26733784.