Glutamine Non Essential Amino Acid - Polar Amino Acids (hydrophilic)

Glutamine is a most abundant amino acid. Glutamine is the amide of glutamic acid, and is uncharged under all biological conditions. Its side chain is an amide, it is formed by replacing a side-chain hydroxyl of glutamic acid with an amine functional group. Glutamine is biochemically important as a constituent of proteins. Some people refer this as a "smart-vitamin" - although it is in actual fact no vitamin at all.

Glutamine Benefits and Uses

• Glutamine is considered to be nature's "Brain food" by improving mental capacities
• It helps speed the healing of ulcers
• Glutamine is a supplement that is used in weightlifting and bodybuilding , as well as by those who suffer for muscular cramps or pain
• Glutamine gives a "lift" from fatigue
• It helps in controling alcoholism, schizophrenia and the craving for sugar.

Glutamine Food Sources

The main use of glutamine within the diet of either groups is as a means of replenishing the body's stores of amino acids that have been used during exercise or everyday activities.

Structure of Glutamine Amino Acid

The additional single methylene group in the side chain relative to asparagine allows glutamine in the free form or as the N-terminus of proteins to spontaneously cyclize and deamidate yielding the six-membered ring structure pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, which is found at the N-terminus of many immunoglobulin polypeptides. Glutamine can, hence, be used as a nitrogen donor in the biosynthesis of many compounds, including other amino acids, purines, and pyrimidines.