Definition

The anhydrous form of enol-oxaloacetate, a small molecule blood glutamate scavenger, that can be used to lower glutamate plasma levels, and has potential neuroprotective activity. Upon administration, enol-oxaloacetate targets and binds to glutamate in the bloodstream. This lowers glutamate plasma levels and lowers the free glutamate available to be picked up by cells, such as tumor brain cells, thereby preventing glutamate metabolism and glutamate-mediated signaling. This prevents the proliferation of rapidly growing cells, such as brain tumor cells. And by lowering glutamate plasma levels, a molecular imbalance is formed and glutamate is excreted across the blood-brain barrier, resulting in lower free brain glutamate. This may help protect the brain from excitotoxicity in conditions where there is a surge of glutamate production, such as traumatic brain injury, thereby protecting neuronal cells. Glutamate, a non-essential amino acid and the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), provides energy and generates building blocks for the production of macromolecules, which are needed for cellular growth and survival.