Glutamine inhibits the accumulation and hydroxylation of tryptophan in rat striatal synaptosomes.

L-Glutamine at the concentration present in cerebrospinal fluid decreases the steady-state accumulation of the aromatic amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) in rat striatal synaptosomes. Glutamine significantly inhibits synaptosomal tryptophan hydroxylase activity; it has less marked effects on tyrosine hydroxylase and DOPA decarboxylase activities. Thus, interaction between glutamine and tryptophan transport into nerve terminals may be one of the factors regulating the rate of serotonin synthesis in vivo.