Glutamic acid - a non essential amino acid - Electrically Charged Amino Acids (negative and hydrophilic)

Glutamic acid has one additional methylene group in its side chain than does aspartic acid. Glutamic acid (Glu) or glutamate (the anionic form) is one of the 20 standard amino acids used by all organisms in their proteins. It is a potential source of energy. Glutamic acid overstimulation occurs as part of the ischemic cascade and is associated with diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, lathyrism, and Alzheimer's disease.

Glutamic acid Benefits and Uses

• Glutamic acid is considered to be nature's "Brain food" by improving mental capacities
• It helps speed the healing of ulcers
• Glutamic acid gives a "lift" from fatigue
• It helps in controling alcoholism, schizophrenia and the craving for sugar.

Glutamic acid Food Sources

Glutamate is present in a wide variety of foods and is responsible for one of the five basic tastes of the human sense of taste ( umami ), especially in combination with salt.

Structure of Glutamic acid Amino Acid

As its name indicates, it is acidic , with a carboxylic acid component to its side chain. The pK a of the ? carboxyl group for glutamic acid in a polypeptide is about 4.3, significantly higher than that of aspartic acid. This is due to the inductive effect of the additional methylene group. A three-letter designation for either Gln or Glu is Glx.