Y-aminobutyric glutamic transaminase

Among the numerous enzymes that utilize pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) as cofactor, the amino acid racemases, amino acid decarboxylases (e.g., aromatic amino acids, ornithine, glutamic acid), aminotransferases (y-aminobutyrate transaminase), and a-oxamine synthases, have been the main targets in the search for fluorinated mechanism-based inhibitors. Pharmaceutical companies have played a very active role in this promising research (control of the metabolism of amino acids and neuroamines is very important at the physiological level). 

Figure 6.5. Major pathway for the synthesis and degradation of GABA GABA y-aminobutyric acid GAD, glutamic acid decarboxylase GABA-T, GABA transaminase.

Lin C-T, Li J-Z, Wu J-Y (1983) Immunocytochemical localization of L-glutamate decarboxylase, gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase, cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase, aspartate aminotransferase and somatostatin in rat retina. Brain Res 270 273-283. 

Figure 12-4. Gamma-aminobutyric acid metabolic interactions. GA = glutaminase GABA = y-aminobutyric acid GABA-T = GABA a-oxaloglutarate transaminase GAD = glutamic acid decarboxylase GS = glutamic synthetase NAD+ = nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide PP = pyridoxal phosphate (vitamin B6) SSA = succinic semialdehyde SSADH = succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase GHB = y-hydroxybutyric acid GBL = y-butyrolactone.

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