How much ATP is generated by the complete oxidation of glutamate?

Glutamic acid has a wide range of uses in medicine, especially in the treatment of hepatic coma. It also has a good effect in improving children's intellectual development. In addition, it is often used as a food flavor enhancer in the food industry. It is also one of the main raw materials for the production of monosodium glutamate and spices. Glutamic acid can be completely oxidized and decomposed into ATP. Let's learn about this aspect below.

How much ATP is generated by the complete oxidation of glutamate?

Glutamate → α-ketoglutarate + NH3 generates a reducing equivalent NADH + H +, (the enzyme, L-glutamate dehydrogenase, exists in the mitochondria, so NADH + H + does not need to go through the shuttle mechanism, and produces 2.5 ATP through the oxidative respiratory chain) α-ketoglutarate enters the tricarboxylic acid cycle and is converted into oxaloacetate, producing a total of 2 NADH + H +, a GTP (substrate level phosphorylation), and a FADH2.5+1+1.5=7.5. Oxaloacetate is decarboxylated to pyruvate, and pyruvate is completely oxidized and decomposed to generate 12.5 ATP, so one generates 2.5+7.5+12.5=22.5

The main uses of glutamate

In medicine, glutamate is mainly used to treat hepatic coma and to improve children's intellectual development. In the food industry, MSG is a commonly used food flavor enhancer, and its main ingredient is sodium glutamate. In the past, monosodium glutamate was mainly produced by hydrolyzing wheat gluten, but now it is produced on a large scale by microbial fermentation.

L-Glutamic acid is mainly used in the production of monosodium glutamate, spices, and as a salt substitute, nutritional supplement and biochemical reagent. L-glutamic acid itself can be used as a medicine, participating in the metabolism of proteins and sugars in the brain and promoting the oxidation process. This product combines with ammonia in the body to form non-toxic glutamine, which reduces blood ammonia and alleviates the symptoms of hepatic coma.

It can be used as a nutraceutical for skin and hair. It can easily form glutamine with blood ammonia, which can eliminate the toxic effects of ammonia in the metabolic process. Therefore, it can prevent and treat hepatic coma and protect the liver. It is an auxiliary drug for patients with liver diseases. The brain tissue can only oxidize glutamate but not other amino acids, so glutamine can serve as an energy substance for the brain tissue and improve and maintain brain function. Glutamic acid, as a supplement for nerve centers and cerebral cortex, has certain therapeutic effects on the treatment of concussion or nerve damage, epilepsy and mentally retarded children. The medicines made of glutamate include medicinal glutamate oral tablets, sodium (potassium) glutamate injection, calcium glutamate injection, acetylglutamate injection, etc.