N-Methyl--glutamic acid (methylglutamate) is a chemical derivative of glutamic acid in which a methyl group has been added to the amino group. It is an intermediate in methane metabolism. Biosynthetically, it is produced from methylamine and glutamic acid by the enzyme methylamineâÂÂglutamate N-methyltransferase. It can also be demethylated by methylglutamate dehydrogenase to regenerate glutamic acid.