Glutamate properties

Compounds that have agonistic properties at glutamate or aspartate receptors are also CNS stimulants, readily cause convulsions, and presumably could also be employed as analeptics. Three separate excitatory amino acid receptor subtypes have been characterized pharmacologically, based on the relative potency of synthetic agonists. These three receptors are named for their respective prototypical agonists A/-methyl-D-aspartate [6384-92-5]... 

The side chains of the 20 different amino acids listed in Panel 1.1 (pp. 6-7) have very different chemical properties and are utilized for a wide variety of biological functions. However, their chemical versatility is not unlimited, and for some functions metal atoms are more suitable and more efficient. Electron-transfer reactions are an important example. Fortunately the side chains of histidine, cysteine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid are excellent metal ligands, and a fairly large number of proteins have recruited metal atoms as intrinsic parts of their structures among the frequently used metals are iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. Several metallo proteins are discussed in detail in later chapters and it suffices here to mention briefly a few examples of iron and zinc proteins. 

Glutamic acid, structure and properties of, 1019 Glutamine, structure and properties of, 1018... 

Altered synaptic properties Numerous changes in the properties of inhibitory (GABAergic) and excitatory (glutamatergic) synapses have been reported. While the simple adage of an imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission in epilepsy is not generally applicable, some forms of inhibition are lost or impaired in epilepsy. Likewise, an increased function of glutamate receptors has been demonstrated in some brain areas. 

Monyer H, Jonas P, Rossier J (1999) Molecular determinants controlling functional properties of AMPARs and NMDARs in the mammalian CNS, chapter 9 Ionotropic glutamate receptors in the CNS. Springer Verlag... 

Mohadger, Y., and Wilkes, G. L., The effect of casting solvent on the material properties of polyCY-methyl-D-glutamate), J. Polym. Sci. Polvm. Phys. Ed., 14. 963-980, 1976. 

Kim KT, Vandermeulen GWM, Winnik MA, Manners I (2005) Organometallic-polypeptide block copolymers synthesis and properties of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane)-b-poly (gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate). Macromolecules 38 4958 961... 

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