Glutamine 63549 225976636 2008-07-16T08:16:45Z Corbori 7484500 /* See also */ rv redundant see also wikis {{NatOrganicBox | image= <br>[[Image:Glutamin - Glutamine.svg|240px|Chemical structure of Glutamine]]<br>[[Image:L-glutamine-3D-sticks.png|200px|Chemical structure of the amino acid glutamine]]<br />Chemical structure of L-glutamine | name=(2S)-2-amino-4-carbamoyl-butanoic acid | PubChem = 738 | CAS = 56-85-9 | SMILES = N[C@@H](CCC(N)=O)C(O)=O | C=5 | H=10 | N=2 | O=3 | mass=146.15 g/mol }} '''Glutamine''' (abbreviated as '''Gln''' or '''Q'''; the abbreviation '''Glx''' or '''Z''' represents either glutamate or [[glutamic acid]]) is one of the 20 [[amino acid]]s encoded by the standard [[genetic code]]. Its [[side chain]] is an [[amide]] formed by replacing the side-chain [[hydroxyl]] of [[glutamic acid]] with an [[amine]] [[functional group]]. It can therefore be considered the [[amide]] of the acidic amino acid [[glutamic acid]]. Its codons are CAA and CAG. ==Nutrition== === Occurrences in nature === Glutamine is the most abundant naturally occurring, non-[[essential amino acid]] in the human body. In the body it is found circulating in the blood as well as stored in the [[skeletal muscle]]s. It becomes conditionally essential (requiring intake from food or supplements) in states of illness or injury. ====Dietary sources==== Dietary sources of L-glutamine include beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, dairy products, cabbage, beets, beans, spinach, and parsley. Small amounts of free L-glutamine are also found in vegetable juices and fermented foods, such as [[miso]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Glutamine |work=Vitamins & health supplements |url=http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/amino-acids/glutamine.php|accessmonthday=November 1|accessyear=2007 }}</ref> === Functions === Glutamine has a variety of biochemical functions including: # A substrate for DNA synthesis # Major role in protein synthesis # Primary source of fuel for [[enterocyte]]s (cells lining the inside of the small intestine). # Precursor for rapidly dividing immune cells, thus aiding in immune function # Regulation of acid-base balance in the kidney by producing [[ammonium]]<ref>''Textbook of Medical Physiology'' Guyton & Hall (11th edition), p. 393</ref> # Alternative source of fuel for the brain and helps to block cortisol-induced protein catabolism # As a form of fixed nitogen by [[heterocyst]]s, exchanged for photosynthate from undifferentiated [[cyanobacteria]]l cells === Use === In catabolic states of injury and illness, GLN becomes conditionally-essential (requiring intake from food or supplements). Glutamine has been studied extensively over the past 10-15 years and has been shown to be useful in treatment of serious illnesses, injury, trauma, burns, cancer and its treatment related side-effects as well as in wound healing for postoperative patients.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} That is why it is now also classified as a "nutraceutical". Glutamine is also marketed as a supplement used for muscle growth in [[weightlifting]], [[bodybuilding]], [[List of sports#Endurance sports|endurance]] and other sports.<ref>John Ivy and Portman, Robert, ''Nutrient Timing'',(Laguna Beach: Basic Health Publications, 2004), page 57.</ref> === Aiding gastrointestinal function === In recent studies, glutamine-enriched diets have been linked with intestinal effects including maintenance of [[Enterocyte|gut barrier]] function{{Fact|date=July 2008}}, intestinal [[cell (biology)|cell]] [[cell proliferation|proliferation]] and [[cell differentiation|differentiation]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}. It may be used in the treatment of [[sepsis]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}} and [[irritable bowel syndrome]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}}. This may relate to the fact that the intestinal extraction rate of glutamine is higher than that for other amino acids, and is therefore thought to be the most viable option when attempting to alleviate conditions relating to the [[gastrointestinal tract]]. <ref name=Boza2001>{{cite journal | author = Boza, J.J. | coauthors = Dangin, M.; Moennoz, D.; Montigon, F.; Vuichoud, J.; Jarret, A.; Pouteau, E.; Gremaud, G.; Oguey-araymon, S.; Courtois, D.; Others, | year = 2001 | title = Free and protein-bound glutamine have identical splanchnic extraction in healthy human volunteers | journal = American Journal of Physiology- Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology | volume = 281 | issue = 1 | pages = 267–274 | url = http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/281/1/G267 | accessdate = 2007-11-01 | pmid = 11408280 | doi = 10.1097/00000658-199802000-00022 }}</ref> These conditions were discovered after comparing plasma concentration within the gut between glutamine-enriched and non glutamine-enriched diets. However, even though glutamine is thought to have "cleansing" properties and effects, it is unknown to what extent glutamine has clinical benefits, due to the varied concentrations of glutamine in varieties of food. <ref name=Boza2001 /> === Aiding recovery after surgery === It is also known that glutamine has various effects in reducing [[wound healing|healing]] time after operations. Hospital-stay times after abdominal [[surgery]] can be reduced by providing [[parenteral nutrition]] regimes containing high amounts of glutamine to patients. Clinical trials have revealed that patients on supplementation regimes containing glutamine have improved nitrogen balances, generation of cysteinyl-[[leukotriene]]s from [[polymorphonuclear neutrophil]] granulocytes and improved [[lymphocyte]] recovery and intestinal permeability (in postoperative patients) - in comparison to those who had no glutamine within their dietary regime; all without any [[adverse effect (medicine)|side-effects]]. <ref name=Morlion1998>{{cite journal | author = Morlion, B.J. | coauthors = Stehle, P.; Wachtler, P.; Siedhoff, H.P.; Koller, M.; Konig, W.; Furst, P.; Puchstein, C. | year = 1998 | title = Total parenteral nutrition with glutamine dipeptide after major abdominal surgery: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study | journal = Ann Surg | volume = 227 | issue = 2 | pages = 302–8 | url = http://www.annalsofsurgery.com/pt/re/annos/fulltext.00000658-199802000-00022.htm | accessdate = 2007-11-01 | doi = 10.1097/00000658-199802000-00022 }}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} <ref name=Jian1999>{{cite journal | author = Jian, Z.M. | coauthors = Cao, J.D.; Zhu, X.G.; Zhao, W.X.; Yu, J.C.; Ma, E.L.; Wang, X.R.; Zhu, M.W.; Shu, H.; Liu, Y.W. | year = 1999 | title = The impact of alanyl-glutamine on clinical safety, nitrogen balance, intestinal permeability, and clinical outcome in postoperative patients: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study of 120 patients. | journal = JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr | volume = 23 | issue = 5 Suppl | pages = S62–6 | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10483898&dopt=Citation | accessdate = 2007-11-01 }}</ref> ==External links== *[http://www.omdict.com/definition/glutamine.php Glutamine details, treatment benefits and precautions] *[http://www.compchemwiki.org/index.php?title=Glutamine Computational Chemistry Wiki] *[http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/5/4/290.pdf Nutrients and HIV: Part Three] *[http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Glutaminecs.html Supplemental uses] {{AminoAcids}} {{Dietary supplement}} [[Category:Proteinogenic amino acids]] [[Category:Dietary supplements]] [[Category:Glucogenic amino acids]] [[ca:Glutamina]] [[cs:Glutamin]] [[de:Glutamin]] [[es:Glutamina]] [[eo:Glutamino]] [[fr:Glutamine]] [[ko:글루타민]] [[id:Glutamin]] [[it:Glutammina]] [[he:גלוטמין]] [[lv:Glutamīns]] [[lb:Glutamin]] [[lt:Glutaminas]] [[nl:Glutamine]] [[ja:グルタミン]] [[no:Glutamin]] [[pl:Glutamina]] [[pt:Glutamina]] [[ru:Глутамин]] [[sk:Glutamín]] [[sr:Глутамин]] [[fi:Glutamiini]] [[sv:Glutamin]] [[tr:Glutamin]] [[uk:Глутамін]] [[zh:穀氨醯胺]]