D(-)-Glutamic acid

Chemical properties

White cryst. powder

The Uses of D(-)-Glutamic acid

D-Glutamic Acid is the unnatural (R)-enantiomer of Glutamic Acid, a non-essential amino acid. Its salt form (glutamate) is an important neurotransmitter that plays a key role in long-term potentiation and is important for learning and memory. Glutamic Acid is also a key molecule in cellular metabolism.

The Uses of D(-)-Glutamic acid

D-Glutamic acid acts as a superior to alpha ketoglutarate. It helps in the growth of Lactobacillus arabinosus. It can inhibit the IgE binding to peanut allergens. It is widely used in pharmaceuticals and foods.

The Uses of D(-)-Glutamic acid

D-glutamic acid is suitable for use in the structure-affinity relationship (SAR)-study of GR (glutamate racemase) enzyme and its inhibitors.

Definition

ChEBI: An optically active form of glutamic acid having D-configuration.

General Description

D-Glutamic acid is an essential constituent of the bacterial peptidoglycan structure. It is added to UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine (UDP-MurNAc-L-alanine) by the enzyme D-glutamic acid-adding enzyme (murD). This is, then, incorporated into the peptidoglycan precursor. Peptidoglycan makes up the cell walls of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. The conversion of L-glutamate to D-glutamate by glutamate racemase (GR) enzyme is an essential step in the synthesis of peptidoglycan.

Biological Activity

Excitatory amino acid acting at NMDA receptors; less active than the L-isomer.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Unnatural isomer of glutamic acid.

Storage

Room temperature