An amino acid (glutamic acid) used as a neurotransmitter at many excitatory synapses in the central nervous system.

an excitatory neurotransmitter that may play a role in some types of epilepsy.

Ionic salts of glutamic acid used as flavor enhancers in many foods. Glutamate is usually manufactured by acid hydrolysis of vegetable proteins. Besides being a basic building block of proteins, glutamate functions as a neurotransmitter that helps neurons grow new connections; as such, glutamate plays an important role in learning and memory. At high concentrations, glutamate can function as an excitotoxin.-aminoglutaric%20acid" glutamic acid. Glu; -aminoglutaric acid. Compare with glutamate and glutamine. A naturally occurring amino acid that has a carboxylic acid group on its side chain. In proteins, glutamic acid residues can occur with the side-chain carboxylic acid group converted to an amide; the residue is then called glutamine.

The most critical neurotransmitter in the retina, it also appears to be important for long-term memory and the perception of pain.