Polyglutamic acid

Polyglutamic acid

Gamma PGA
Names
Systematic IUPAC name
Poly[imino[1-carboxy-4-oxo-1,4-butanediyl]]
Identifiers
25736-27-0
Properties
(C5H7NO3)n
Molar mass variable
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Polyglutamic acid (PGA) is a polymer of the amino acid glutamic acid (GA). Gamma PGA (the form where the peptide bonds are between the amino group of GA and the carboxyl group at the end of the GA side chain) is a major constituent of the Japanese food natto. Gamma PGA is formed by bacterial fermentation.

Gamma PGA has a wide number of potential uses ranging from food and medicine to water treatment. It is widely being used as a drug delivery system in cancer treatment[1] and research is underway for its application in a treatment of type I diabetes and its potential use in the production of an AIDS vaccine.

References

  1. ↑ C. Li, D.F. Yu, A. Newman, F. Cabral, C. Stephens, N.R. Hunter, L. Milas, S. Wallace (1998). "Complete regression of well-established tumors using a novel water-soluble poly(L-glutamic acid)-paclitaxel conjugate". Cancer Res 58 (11): 2404–2409. PMID 9622081.
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