GABA

For other uses, see Gaba (disambiguation).
γ-Aminobutyric acid
Simplified structural formula
GABA molecule
Names
Pronunciation /ˈɡæmə əˈmiːnoʊbjuːˈtɪrɪk ˈæsɪd/, /ˈɡæbə/ (GABA)
Preferred IUPAC name
4-Aminobutanoic acid
Other names
  • γ-Aminobutanoic acid
  • 4-Aminobutyric acid
  • 3-Carboxypropylamine
  • Piperidic acid
  • Piperidinic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
906818
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.235 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 200-258-6
49775
KEGG
MeSH gamma-Aminobutyric+Acid
RTECS number
  • ES6300000
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C4H9NO2/c5-3-1-2-4(6)7/h1-3,5H2,(H,6,7) checkY
    Key: BTCSSZJGUNDROE-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C4H9NO2/c5-3-1-2-4(6)7/h1-3,5H2,(H,6,7)
    Key: BTCSSZJGUNDROE-UHFFFAOYAC
  • NCCCC(=O)O
Properties
C4H9NO2
Molar mass 103.121 g·mol−1
Appearance white microcrystalline powder
Density 1.11 g/mL
Melting point 203.7 °C (398.7 °F; 476.8 K)
Boiling point 247.9 °C (478.2 °F; 521.0 K)
130 g/100 ml
log P −3.17
Acidity (pKa)
  • 4.031 (carboxyl; H2O)
  • 10.556 (amino; H2O)[1]
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
 Irritant, Harmful
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
12,680 mg/kg (mouse, oral)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the developmentally mature mammalian central nervous system. Its principal role is reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.

GABA is sold as a dietary supplement in many countries. It has been traditionally thought that exogenous GABA (i.e., taken as a supplement) does not cross the blood–brain barrier, but data obtained from more recent research (2010s) in rats describes the notion as being unclear.[2][3]

The carboxylate form of GABA is γ-aminobutyrate.

  1. ^ Haynes, William M., ed. (2016). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (97th ed.). CRC Press. pp. 5–88. ISBN 978-1498754286.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kuriyama was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).