Biochemistry · Molecule
Glutamine !
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in blood: it carries ammonia safely and feeds the gut, the kidney and immune cells.
Updated 2026-11-01
Loading the 3D model…
Key facts
- Glutamine synthetase makes it from glutamate + NH₄⁺ + ATP; glutaminase turns it back into glutamate + NH₄⁺.
- It carries nitrogen from almost every tissue to the liver and kidney.
- In the kidney, glutaminase releases NH₄⁺ that leaves in urine with acid; this rises in metabolic acidosis.
- It donates nitrogen for purines, pyrimidines and amino sugars.
- Formula
- C₅H₁₀N₂O₃
- PubChem
- CID 5961
Structure
- It is the amide of glutamate: the side-chain carboxyl becomes an amide group (–CONH₂).
Clinical notes
- In hyperammonaemia, glutamine builds up in astrocytes and causes cerebral oedema; it rises in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid.
- It is the preferred fuel of enterocytes and lymphocytes.
- Many tumours depend on it to grow («glutamine addiction»).
Pathways
Related conditions
Related
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which enzyme makes glutamine, and what does it spend?
Glutamine synthetase: it joins glutamate and NH₄⁺ using one ATP.
Why does the kidney use more glutamine in metabolic acidosis?
Renal glutaminase releases NH₄⁺, which traps protons and removes them in urine.
What happens to brain glutamine during hyperammonaemia?
Astrocytes pile it up while fixing ammonia; it draws in water, they swell and cerebral oedema follows.
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-Glutamine (CID 5961) (PubChem, NCBI, 2026) · Public domain; Glutamate and glutamine metabolism (Reactome, 2026); Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students, 6th ed. (Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (Vasudevan DM, Sreekumari S, Vaidyanathan K), 2011).
Spotted a mistake?We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it.Report a mistake
Representative model, for educational purposes only.