L-Glutamic acid

L-Glutamic acid has been used as a supplement in for cell culture media to culture hippocampal neurons and hT-PA (human tissue plasminogen activation) producing cell line.

Glutamic acid, or glutamate, the salt form of glutamic acid, functions as a neurotransmitter and also serves as a precursor to other neurotransmitters such as γ-aminobutyric acid. Glutamic acid also plays a key role in many metabolic pathways, that controls growth, reproduction, maintenance and immunity. It is converted to α-ketoglutarate, a key component of the TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle, and a precursor for the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and certain amino acids. In cells, glutamine is converted to glutamate by the enzyme glutaminase. Glutamine serves as a source of energy for rapidly dividing cells comprising lymphocytes, enterocytes, macrophages and tumors. Glutamine mediates protein turnover via cellular mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling. It is also known to be associated with the inhibition of apoptosis.

An excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter that is an agonist at all subtypes of glutamate receptors (metabotropic, kainate, NMDA, and AMPA).