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

Zhou Heli; Chen Hongyu; Bao Dapeng; Tan Yee Shin; Zhong Yejun; Zhang Xi; Wu Yingying

doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1076223

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

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

Authors

Zhou Heli¹, Chen Hongyu², Bao Dapeng^{1

2}, Tan Yee Shin³, Zhong Yejun⁴, Zhang Xi⁵, Wu Yingying²

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
² National Engineering Research Center of Edible Fungi, Key Laboratory of Applied Mycological Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
³ Faculty of Science and Mushroom Research Centre, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
⁵ BannerBio Nutraceuticals Inc., Shenzhen, China.

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.

Publication types

Review