Topic summary
4-Aminobutyrate transaminase
In enzymology, 4-aminobutyrate transaminase (EC2.6.1.19), also called GABA transaminase or 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase, or GABA-T, is an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible chemical reaction:
- GABA + α-ketoglutaric acid succinate semialdehyde + L-glutamic acid
The two substrates of this enzyme are GABA and α-ketoglutaric acid. Its products are succinate semialdehyde and L-glutamic acid.
Th enzyme is a transferase, specifically a transaminase, which transfer nitrogenous groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 4-aminobutanoate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase. This enzyme participates in 5 metabolic pathways: alanine and aspartate metabolism, glutamate metabolism, β-alanine metabolism, propanoate metabolism, and butanoate metabolism. It uses pyridoxal phosphate as a cofactor.
This enzyme is found in prokaryotes, plants, fungi, and animals (including humans). Pigs have often been used when studying how this protein may work in humans.