Final answer:
Bioactive molecules derived from glutamate include GABA, glutathione, proline, alanine, aspartate, and asparagine. Glutamate is also a vital excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and serves as a precursor for various ionotropic and metabotropic receptors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bioactive Molecules Derived from Glutamate
The amino acid glutamate is a key metabolic and neurochemical player. It is involved in various bioactive compounds' synthesis. One crucial molecule synthesized from glutamate is gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), which is created upon the decarboxylation of glutamate. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that regulates neural activity. Another essential function of glutamate is in the formation of glutathione, a major antioxidant, and in the synthesis of folate, which is crucial for DNA production and repair.
Proline, an amino acid, is synthesized from glutamate as well. Alanine and aspartate production involves transamination reactions with glutamate. Notably, asparagine, used in protein synthesis, can also be derived from glutamate indirectly through aspartate, which itself is a product of transamination of glutamate.
In terms of neurotransmission, glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), stored and released by glutamatergic neurons. Synthesis of glutamate in animal cells occurs through the action of glutamate dehydrogenase, which incorporates inorganic nitrogen into an α-keto acid to form glutamate. This amino acid then contributes to neurotransmission through ionotropic receptors like AMPA, Kainate, and NMDA receptors, and through metabotropic glutamate receptors with diverse physiological effects.