N-Acetylaspartylglutamic Acid Unit Converter

N-Acetylaspartylglutamic acid (NAAG) is the most abundant peptide neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. It is a dipeptide formed from two amino acid derivatives: N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA) and glutamic acid.

NAAG is found throughout the brain and spinal cord, with the highest concentrations in the spinal cord. It acts primarily on metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 (mGluR3), where it helps regulate glutamate signaling and protects neurons from excessive excitation.

NAAG is measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), where normal levels are below 12 µmol/L. It is a specialized marker used mainly in the evaluation of certain neurological and metabolic disorders, particularly free sialic acid storage diseases.

Synthesized in neurons throughout the brain and spinal cord by NAAG synthetase enzymes, which join N-acetylaspartic acid and glutamic acid. Small amounts may also be produced by astrocytes.