GABA
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡæmə əˈmiːnoʊbjuːˈtɪrɪk ˈæsɪd/, /ˈɡæbə/ (GABA) | 
| Preferred IUPAC name 4-Aminobutanoic acid | |
| Other names 
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| Identifiers | |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| 906818 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| DrugBank | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.235 | 
| EC Number | 
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| 49775 | |
| KEGG | |
| MeSH | gamma-Aminobutyric+Acid | 
| PubChem CID | |
| RTECS number | 
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| UNII | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| 
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| 
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| 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) | 
| 1.2 [ug/mL] | |
| log P | −3.17 | 
| Acidity (pKa) | 
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| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
| Main hazards | Irritant, Harmful | 
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
| LD50 (median dose) | 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). Infobox references | |
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.
The carboxylate form of GABA is γ-aminobutyrate.