5'-Guanylic acid disodium salt (GMP-5) belongs to the class of organic compounds known as purine ribonucleoside monophosphates. In particular, L-Glutamic acid and guanosine monophosphate can be biosynthesized from xanthylic acid and L-glutamine; which is catalyzed by the enzyme GMP synthase [glutamine-hydrolyzing]. In addition, Guanosine triphosphate and guanosine monophosphate can be biosynthesized from diguanosine tetraphosphate; which is catalyzed by the enzyme bis(5'-nucleosyl)-tetraphosphatase [asymmetrical]. In humans, guanosine monophosphate is involved in the kanamycin action pathway, the telithromycin action pathway, the tobramycin action pathway, and the erythromycin action pathway. Guanosine monophosphate is also involved in several metabolic disorders, some of which include the AICA-ribosiduria pathway, adenosine deaminase deficiency, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency (aprt), and the 2-hydroxyglutric aciduria (D and L form) pathway. Outside of the human body, guanosine monophosphate can be found in a number of food items such as onion-family vegetables, millet, chinese water chestnut, and red rice. This makes guanosine monophosphate a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products.

5'-Guanylic acid (5'-guanosine monophosphate) is involved in several metabolic disorders, including AICA-ribosiduria pathway, adenosine deaminase deficiency,adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency (aprt), and the 2-hydroxyglutric aciduria pathway.