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Review
. 2022 Dec 22:9:1076223.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1076223. eCollection 2022.

Recent advances of γ-aminobutyric acid: Physiological and immunity function, enrichment, and metabolic pathway

Zhou Heli  1 , Chen Hongyu  2 , Bao Dapeng  1   2 , Tan Yee Shin  3 , Zhong Yejun  4 , Zhang Xi  5 , Wu Yingying  2
Affiliations
Review

Recent advances of γ-aminobutyric acid: Physiological and immunity function, enrichment, and metabolic pathway

Zhou Heli et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid which naturally and widely occurs in animals, plants, and microorganisms. As the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of mammals, it has become a popular dietary supplement and has promising application in food industry. The current article reviews the most recent literature regarding the physiological functions, preparation methods, enrichment methods, metabolic pathways, and applications of GABA. This review sheds light on developing GABA-enriched plant varieties and food products, and provides insights for efficient production of GABA through synthetic biology approaches.

Keywords: GABA; anabolism; biofortification breeding; catabolism; environmental stress; microbial fermentation; neurotransmitter.

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Conflict of interest statement

ZX was employed by the BannerBio Nutraceuticals Inc. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Structural formula of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Chemical synthesis methods for GABA. (A) γ-Cyanogen chloride method; (B) pyrrolidone ring-opening method; (C) butyric acid and ammonia water method; and (D) γ-butyrolactone and thionyl chloride method.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Two metabolic pathways of GABA. formula image, the TCA cycle; formula image, the GABA shunt; formula image, the PA pathway; formula image, other pathways; formula image, a transporter; formula image, the electron transport chain.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Metabolic map of GABA synthesis and GABA degradation. formula image, TCA cycle; formula image, GABA shunt; formula image, PA pathway; formula image, Otherway.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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