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[Biochemistry](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/) · Molecule

# Glutamate (glutamic acid)

Glutamate gathers the nitrogen of amino acids and hands it on for urea; in the brain it is the main excitatory neurotransmitter.

Updated 2026-11-01

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## Key facts

- Almost all transaminases make it: amino acid + α-ketoglutarate → keto acid + glutamate.
- Glutamate dehydrogenase deaminates it and releases NH₄⁺ in liver mitochondria.
- Precursor of glutamine, GABA, proline, ornithine, glutathione and N-acetylglutamate.
- Non-essential and glucogenic: its carbon skeleton is α-ketoglutarate.

**Formula**
C₅H₉NO₄

**PubChem**
[CID 33032](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/33032)

## Structure

- A five-carbon acidic amino acid with two carboxyl groups; at body pH it carries a net negative charge.

## Clinical notes

- Excess glutamate at the synapse (excitotoxicity) takes part in the damage of stroke and seizures.
- Ketamine and memantine block the NMDA receptor, one of its receptors.
- Its decarboxylation to GABA needs pyridoxal phosphate (B6): B6 deficiency can cause seizures.

## Pathways

- [Urea cycle](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/urea-cycle/)
- [Phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/phenylalanine-and-tyrosine-metabolism/)
- [De novo purine synthesis](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/de-novo-purine-synthesis/)
- [Pyrimidine synthesis](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/pyrimidine-synthesis/)
- [Branched-chain amino acid breakdown (leucine route)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/branched-chain-amino-acid-breakdown/)
- [Malate–aspartate shuttle](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/malate-aspartate-shuttle/)

## Related conditions

- [Ischaemic stroke](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ischaemic-stroke/)
- [Epilepsy and seizures](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/epilepsy-and-seizures/)

## Related

- [Glutamine](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/glutamine/)
- [Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/glutamate-dehydrogenase/)
- [Glutamine synthetase](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/glutamine-synthetase/)
- [Alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/alanine-aminotransferase/)
- [Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/aspartate-aminotransferase/)
- [Transamination and deamination](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/transamination-and-deamination/)
- [Molecules derived from amino acids](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/molecules-derived-from-amino-acids/)

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which keto acid accepts the amino group in almost all transaminations?

α-Ketoglutarate, which becomes glutamate.

## Which inhibitory neurotransmitter is made from glutamate?

GABA, by glutamate decarboxylase, which needs pyridoxal phosphate (B6).

## Which glutamate-derived molecule activates CPS-I?

N-acetylglutamate, made with acetyl-CoA by NAG synthase.

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Molecules are shown in their neutral form, as the databases deposit them; in the cell the acids and phosphates are ionised.

Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

Sources: [L-Glutamic Acid (CID 33032)](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/33032) (PubChem, NCBI, 2026) · Public domain; [Glutamate and glutamine metabolism](https://reactome.org/PathwayBrowser/#/R-HSA-8964539) (Reactome, 2026); Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students, 6th ed. (Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (Vasudevan DM, Sreekumari S, Vaidyanathan K), 2011).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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