N-Acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamic acid

N-Acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamic acid is an amino acid that is used as a substrate in the biochemical assay for glutamate. It is also used to measure brain functions. NAAG is a low potency agonist of the NMDA receptor, which may contribute to neuronal death. NAAG is used as a model system to study bowel disease and eosinophil cationic protein. It has been shown to be effective in vitro against cancer cells and fungi. The structural analysis of NAAG has revealed that it contains an acidic group on its side chain, which can be detected with a pH indicator such as phenol red or bromocresol purple.