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Glutamic acid

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Glutamic acid is a widely used ingredient in cosmetics, personal care, and skincare formulations. Depending on its function, it may serve as a moisturizer, preservative, emulsifier, or active ingredient to enhance the overall effectiveness and performance of a product.

Glutamic acid (Wikipedia)
Not to be confused with Glutamine or Glutaric acid.
For the anion in its role as a neurotransmitter, see Glutamate (neurotransmitter).

Glutamic acid (symbol Glu or E; known as glutamate in its anionic form) is an α-amino acid that is used by almost all living beings in the biosynthesis of proteins. It is a non-essential nutrient for humans, meaning that the human body can synthesize enough for its use. It is also the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate nervous system. It serves as the precursor for the synthesis of the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in GABAergic neurons.

Glutamic acid
Glutamic acid in non ionic form
Glutamic acid in non ionic form
Skeletal formula of L-glutamic acid
Names
IUPAC name
Glutamic acid
Systematic IUPAC name
2-Aminopentanedioic acid
Other names
  • 2-Aminoglutaric acid
Identifiers
  • l isomer: 56-86-0 checkY
  • racemate: 617-65-2 checkY
  • d isomer: 6893-26-1 checkY
3D model (JSmol)
1723801 (L) 1723799 (rac) 1723800 (D)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.009.567 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • l isomer: 200-293-7
E number E620 (flavour enhancer)
3502 (L) 101971 (rac) 201189 (D)
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C5H9NO4/c6-3(5(9)10)1-2-4(7)8/h3H,1-2,6H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10) checkY
    Key: WHUUTDBJXJRKMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • l isomer: InChI=1/C5H9NO4/c6-3(5(9)10)1-2-4(7)8/h3H,1-2,6H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)
    Key: WHUUTDBJXJRKMK-UHFFFAOYAD
  • l isomer: C(CC(=O)O)[C@@H](C(=O)O)N
  • d isomer: C(CC(=O)O)[C@H](C(=O)O)N
  • Zwitterion: C(CC(=O)O)C(C(=O)[O-])[NH3+]
  • Deprotonated zwitterion: C(CC(=O)[O-])C(C(=O)[O-])[NH3+]
Properties
C5H9NO4
Molar mass 147.130 g·mol−1
Appearance White crystalline powder
Density 1.4601 (20 °C)
Melting point 199 °C (390 °F; 472 K) decomposes
8.57 g/L
Solubility Ethanol: 350 μg/100 g (25 °C)
Acidity (pKa) 2.10, 4.07, 9.47
−78.5·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H315, H319, H335
P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
1
0
Supplementary data page
Glutamic acid (data page)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Glutamic acid ball and stick model spinning

Its molecular formula is C
5H
9NO
4. Glutamic acid exists in two optically isomeric forms; the dextrorotatory L-form is usually obtained by hydrolysis of gluten or from the waste waters of beet-sugar manufacture or by fermentation.[full citation needed] Its molecular structure could be idealized as HOOC−CH(NH
2)−(CH
2)2−COOH, with two carboxyl groups −COOH and one amino group −NH
2. However, in the solid state and mildly acidic water solutions, the molecule assumes an electrically neutral zwitterion structure −OOC−CH(NH+
3)−(CH
2)2−COOH. It is encoded by the codons GAA or GAG.

The acid can lose one proton from its second carboxyl group to form the conjugate base, the singly-negative anion glutamate −OOC−CH(NH+
3)−(CH
2)2−COO−. This form of the compound is prevalent in neutral solutions. The glutamate neurotransmitter plays the principal role in neural activation. This anion creates the savory umami flavor of foods and is found in glutamate flavorings such as monosodium glutamate (MSG). In Europe, it is classified as food additive E620. In highly alkaline solutions the doubly negative anion −OOC−CH(NH
2)−(CH
2)2−COO− prevails. The radical corresponding to glutamate is called glutamyl.

The one-letter symbol E for glutamate was assigned as the letter following D for aspartate, as glutamate is larger by one methylene –CH2– group.

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