Glutamate
Glutamate (GLU) is a dicarboxylic aliphatic amino acid. Chemically symbolized as COOH-CH2-CH2[NH2]-COOH, it is abundant (micromolar concentrations/mg protein) in NEURONS (nerve cells) as well as in almost all other cells of the body. Its role as the major excita-tory NEUROTRANSMITTER in the brain was recognized reluctantly; its universal ability to excite all neurons was considered too nonspecific for a neuro-transmitter, so it awaited the development of drugs that antagonized GLU and the specific neuro-pathways from which it was released.
Its source for this special role in NEUROTRANSMISSION is unknown, but the synaptic vesicles of glutamatergic neurons have a selective ion-exchangemechanism to compartmentalize GLU from other metabolic pathways. Excessive GLU-receptor activation can lead to neuronal death.
Research)
Bibliography
COOPER, J. R., BLOOM, F. E., & ROTH, R. H. (1991). The biochemical basis of neuropharmacology, 6th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
This is the complete article, containing 137 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
