Glutamine and glutamate as vital metabolites
Braz. j. med. biol. res
; 36(2): 153-163, Feb. 2003. ilus
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-326431
Responsible library:
BR1.1
RESUMO
Glucose is widely accepted as the primary nutrient for the maintenance and promotion of cell function. This metabolite leads to production of ATP, NADPH and precursors for the synthesis of macromolecules such as nucleic acids and phospholipids. We propose that, in addition to glucose, the 5-carbon amino acids glutamine and glutamate should be considered to be equally important for maintenance and promotion of cell function. The functions of glutamine/glutamate are many, i.e., they are substrates for protein synthesis, anabolic precursors for muscle growth, they regulate acid-base balance in the kidney, they are substrates for ureagenesis in the liver and for hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis, they act as an oxidative fuel for the intestine and cells of the immune system, provide inter-organ nitrogen transport, and act as precursors of neurotransmitter synthesis, of nucleotide and nucleic acid synthesis and of glutathione production. Many of these functions are interrelated with glucose metabolism. The specialized aspects of glutamine/glutamate metabolism of different glutamine-utilizing cells are discussed in the context of glucose requirements and cell function
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Cell Physiological Phenomena
/
Glucose
/
Glutamates
/
Glutamine
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Journal subject:
Biology
/
Medicine
Year:
2003
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
/
Ireland
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences/US
/
Universidade Estadual de Maringá/BR
/
Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba/BR
/
Universidade de São Paulo/BR
/
University College of Dublin/IE