Glutamate/Glutamine Cycle

The glutamate-glutamine cycle plays an important role in the maintenance of cellular function.  Although these amino acids are considered non-essential in mammals, both are vital precursors to various syntheses (e.g., amino acids – aspartate, ?-aminobutyric acid or GABA; peptides – oxidized/reduced glutathione) and help with energy homeostasis.  Included in this metabolic pathway is the synthesis of a-ketoglutarate (a key intermediate of the TCA cycle) and is therefore indirectly involved in energy production as well.  Dysfunction or abnormality in the glutamate-glutamine cycle has been correlated to mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s).  To aid biomarker and metabolism studies in this research space, CIL is pleased to offer its related metabolites in their stable isotope-labeled and/or unlabeled form as neat materials.

For additional information, please see our Stable Isotope Standards for Mass Spectrometry catalog.