Cytosolic reducing power preserves glutamate in retina.

ABSTRACT: Glutamate in neurons is an important excitatory neurotransmitter, but it also is a key metabolite. We investigated how glutamate in a neural tissue is protected from catabolism. Flux analysis using (13)C-labeled fuels revealed that retinas use activities of the malate aspartate shuttle to protect >98% of their glutamate from oxidation in mitochondria. Isolation of glutamate from the oxidative pathway relies on cytosolic NADH/NAD(+), which is influenced by extracellular glucose, lactate, and pyruvate.

SUBMITTER: Du J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3831988 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature