Possible Interaction: Glutamine and Theanine

“ Theanine can inhibit the glutamate receptors and regulate the extracellular concentration of glutamine , presenting neuroprotective effects.”

“ Theanine also acted on glutamine (Gln) transporter strongly and inhibited the incorporation of extracellular Gln into neurons, which in turn suppressed the conversion of Gln to glutamate by glutaminase, a reaction required for condensation into synaptic vesicles to form a neurotransmitter pool responsible for subsequent exocytotic release upon stimuli.”

“Notably, when glutamine was restricted or reduced in the cell culture medium, the cell death induced by theanine was significantly enhanced.”

“These observations suggested that theanine exerted potent cytotoxicity on tumor cells when glutamine was restricted.”

“The theanine-evoked delta PD value was much smaller when theanine was applied in the presence of glutamine than when applied alone.”

“ Theanine was shown to inhibit the convulsive action of caffeine, but was ineffective against pentetrazole, picrotoxin, strychnine, pipradrol and bemegride as well as L-glutamine.”

“ Theanine inhibits glutamine uptake in the glutamine-glutamate cycle via slc38a1 without affecting glutamate; therefore, we believe that theanine may prevent the onset of ASD by changing the balance of glutamine and glutamate in the brain.”