Category: amino-acid
Aliases: Glu, E, Glutamic acid, L-Glutamate, MSG
Principal excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS; acts at AMPA, NMDA, kainate (ionotropic) and mGluR1-8 (metabotropic) receptors. TCA cycle α-KG ↔ Glu transamination hub. Enterocytes oxidise dietary glutamate extensively — little reaches systemic circulation. Precursor to GABA via GAD.