Glutamatergic neurotransmission

Glutamic acid

Names
Systematic IUPAC name 2-Aminopentanedioic acid
Other names 2-Aminoglutaric acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	56-86-0 (L isomer) N 617-65-2 (D/L racemate) N
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:18237 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL276389. N
ChemSpider	591 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.009.567
E number	E620 (flavour enhancer)
KEGG	D0434 N
UNII	61LJO5I15S Y
InChI InChI=1S/C5H9NO4/c6-3(5(9)10)1-2-4(7)8/h3H,1-2,6H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10) Y Key: WHUUTDBJXJRKMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C5H9NO4/c6-3(5(9)10)1-2-4(7)8/h3H,1-2,6H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10) Key: WHUUTDBJXJRKMK-UHFFFAOYAD
SMILES C(CC(=O)O)C(C(=O)O)N
Properties
Chemical formula	C5H9NO4
Molar mass	147.13 g·mol−1
Appearance	white crystalline powder
Density	1.4601 (20 °C)
Melting point	199 °C (390 °F; 472 K) decomposes
Solubility in water	7.5 g/L (20 °C)
Solubility	0.00035g/100g ethanol (25 °C)
Acidity (pKa)	2.10, 4.07, 9.47
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	-78.5·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet	See: data page
NFPA 704	1 2 0
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	Refractive index (n), Dielectric constant (εr), etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour solid–liquid–gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Glutamic acid is an α-amino acid with formula C
5H
9O
4N. It is usually abbreviated as Glu or E in biochemistry. Its molecular structure could be idealized as HOOC-CH(NH
2)-(CH
2)₂-COOH, with two carboxyl groups -COOH and one amino group -NH
2. However, in the solid state and mildly acid water solutions, the molecule assumes an electrically neutral zwitterion structure ⁻OOC-CH(NH+
3)-(CH
2)₂-COOH.

The acid can lose one proton from its second carboxyl group to form the conjugate acid, the singly-negative anion glutamate ⁻OOC-CH(NH+
3)-(CH
2)₂-COO⁻. This form of the compound is prevalent in neutral solutions. The glutamate neurotransmitter plays the principal role in neural activation. This anion is also responsible for the savory flavor (umami) of certain foods, and used in glutamate flavorings such as MSG. In highly alkaline solutions the doubly negative anion ⁻OOC-CH(NH
2)-(CH
2)₂-COO⁻ prevails. The radical corresponding to glutamate is called glutamyl.