5-Octyl L-glutamate

While extracellular glutamic acid is an excitatory neurotransmitter, intracellular glutamic acid is an amino acid that serves numerous metabolic roles, including as a precursor for α-ketoglutarate. 5-Octyl L-glutamate, also known as 5-octyl ester glutamic acid, is a stable, cell-permeable molecule which generates free glutamic acid upon hydrolysis of the ester bond by cytoplasmic esterases. It may be used in experiments to increase levels of cytoplasmic glutamic acid. Alternatively, 5-octyl L-glutamate can be used to synthesize 5-octyl ester derivatives, including 5-octyl α-ketoglutarate, for delivery to cells.