7528-09-8

Basic information

• Product Name: Glutamate
• Synonyms: Glutamate
• CAS NO: 7528-09-8
• Molecular Formula: C5H7CaNO4
• Molecular Weight: 185.19138
• Mol File: 7528-09-8.mol
• Article Data: 0

Chemical Properties

• Boiling Point: 333.8 °C at 760 mmHg
• Flash Point: 155.7 °C
• Appearance: /
• CAS DataBase Reference: Glutamate(CAS DataBase Reference)
• NIST Chemistry Reference: Glutamate(7528-09-8)
• EPA Substance Registry System: Glutamate(7528-09-8)

Safety Data

• Hazardous Substances Data: 7528-09-8(Hazardous Substances Data)

Usage

Description

Glutamate, the major excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), is synthesized in the CNS via the transamination of α-ketoglutarate, which is produced from glucose in the Krebs cycle. It can also be synthesized from glutamine via glutaminase. Glutamate plays a crucial role in various functions, including neurotransmission, protein synthesis, and metabolic processes.

Uses

Used in Pharmaceutical Industry:
Glutamate is used as a neurotransmitter for its role in the central nervous system, facilitating communication between nerve cells and contributing to various cognitive functions.
Used in Food Industry:
Glutamate is used as a flavor enhancer, particularly in the form of monosodium glutamate (MSG), to enhance the savory taste of various foods.
Used in Biochemical Research:
Glutamate is used as a research tool for studying the role of excitatory neurotransmission in the CNS and its involvement in various neurological disorders.
Used in Metabolic Studies:
Glutamate is used as a substrate for studying the Krebs cycle and other metabolic pathways, as well as the synthesis of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.
Used in Neurotransmitter Research:
Glutamate is used as a model for understanding the mechanisms of neurotransmitter release, uptake, and storage in the CNS, as well as its interaction with other neurotransmitters and receptors.

Mechanism of action

The oral ingestion of Glu in protein, as the individual amino acid in the form of a dietary supplement or in the form of the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG), fails to significantly increase CNS levels of this amino acid neurotransmitter. Following its ingestion, blood Glu levels do increase transiently, but largely because of the ability of the blood-brain barrier to regulate the entry of Glu into the CNS, no significant changes in brain Glu are observed. This ability to regulate synaptic Glu levels in brain despite fluctuations in peripheral levels is very important, because uncontrolled variations in CNS Glu would lead to serious consequences, ranging between seizures and coma for increases and decreases of Glu, respectively. Within the blood-brain barrier, there exists transport proteins that are responsible for controlling the influx of amino acids into the CNS. Of the three major types—acidic, basic, and neutral amino acid transporters—it is the acidic amino acid transporter that carries Glu. These transporters act via facilitated diffusion and cannot operate against a concentration gradient (active transport). In actuality, the acidic amino acid transporter normally functions to move Glu out of the CNS. There have been studies in which Glu, often in the form of MSG, has been injected subcutaneously to neonatal mice or nonhuman primates and hypothalamic lesions noted. The lesions are mostly restricted to the circumventricular organs (those near the fourth ventricle), where the blood-brain barrier is significantly diminished. Additionally, when MSG is directly injected into the brains of laboratory animals, cellular necrosis is observed. When MSG is given in very high doses orally, however, the homeostatic processes in liver and other tissues help to regulate plasma Glu concentrations, and large changes are not observed. Additionally, the blood-brain barrier functions to keep CNS Glu at appropriate levels. The studies in which Glu is injected do not reflect the chemical changes that occur following oral ingestion and should not be interpreted as an indicator of toxicity of MSG.