glutamic acid

amino acid that is important for acid metabolism, major component of the neurotransmitter glutamate (Biochemistry)

Glutamic acid or glutamate (abbreviated as Glu or E; Glx or Z represents either glutamic acid or glutamine), is the protonated form of glutamate (the anion). Glutamate is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids. It is not among the essential amino acids. Its codons are GAA and GAG.As its name indicates, glutamic acid has a carboxylic acid component to its side chain. At typical pH's, the amino group is protonated and one or both of the carboxylic groups will be ionized. At neutral pH all three groups are ionized, and the species has a charge of -1. The pKa value for glutamic acid is 4.1, which means that below this pH, the carboxylic acid groups are not ionized in more than half of the molecules.
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Glutamic acid /glu·tam·ic ac·id/ a dibasic, nonessential amino acid widely distributed in proteins, a neurotransmitter that inhibits neural [more]Glutamic acid - Community and Resources

Noun
1. an amino acid occurring in proteins; important in the nitrogen metabolism of plants; used in monosodium glutamate to enhance the flavor of meats
(synonym) glutaminic acid
(hypernym) amino acid, aminoalkanoic acid

-aminoglutaric acid. Compare with glutamate and glutamine .
A naturally occurring amino acid that has a carboxylic acid group on its side chain. In proteins, glutamic acid residues can occur with the side-chain carboxylic acid group converted to an amide ; the residue is then called glutamine .