glutamate

Thân thiện

Glutamate is a key flavor enhancer in many savory foods.

Definition

Noun: 1. A salt or ester of glutamic acid: Glutamate refers to any chemical compound formed when glutamic acid reacts with a base (forming a salt) or an alcohol (forming an ester). It is a crucial molecule in biochemistry. 2. The anionic form of glutamic acid: In biological contexts, "glutamate" commonly refers to the negatively charged ion (anion) of glutamic acid, which is a key neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system.

Usage and Examples

• Sodium glutamate is widely used as a flavor enhancer in cooking.
• The neuron released glutamate to transmit the signal to the next cell.
• Excessive glutamate activity in the brain has been linked to certain neurological conditions.

Advanced Usage

• Excitotoxicity: A pathological process where nerve cells are damaged or killed by excessive stimulation by neurotransmitters such as glutamate.
• Glutamate receptor: A specific type of receptor on the surface of nerve cells that binds glutamate, mediating its excitatory signal.

Variants and Related Words

• Glutamic acid (noun): The amino acid from which glutamate is derived.
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG) (noun): The sodium salt of glutamic acid, commonly used as a food additive.
• Glutamatergic (adjective): Referring to neurons or pathways that use glutamate as their neurotransmitter.

Synonyms

• Glutamate ion
• Glutamic acid salt/ester

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Glutamate decarboxylase: An enzyme that converts glutamate into the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
• Glutamate transporter: A protein responsible for removing glutamate from the synaptic cleft between neurons.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a salt or ester of glutamic acid