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Assay Methods, Purification, and Characterization of L-Glutamate Decarboxylase and GABA-Transaminase

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Book cover Research Methods in Neurochemistry

Abstract

The presence of GABA in uniquely high concentrations in the vertebrate central nervous system was first reported in 1950 (Awapara, 1950; Roberts and Frankel, 1950; Udenfriend, 1950). Definitive evidence for an inhibitory function for GABA at synapses came several years later, originating from Florey’s observation of the inhibitory effects of crude brain extracts on the function of the crayfish stretch receptor system and the identification of GABA as the active substance (Bazemore et al.,1957; Florey, 1957). It now appears established that GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter at the crustacean neuromuscular junction and that it probably also is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate central nervous system (Krnjevic, 1974; Davidson, 1976; Roberts et al.,1976). Although GABA has been considered primarily as a hyperpolarizing inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, recent evidence suggests a possible excitatory role (DeGroat, 1972; Bowery and Brown, 1974; Flock and Lam, 1974; Roskoski et al.,1974; Obata, 1976).

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Abbreviations

GABA:

γ-aminobutyric acid

GAD:

L-glutamate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.15)

GABA-T:

GABA-transaminase (EC 2.6.1.19)

AET:

2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide

CAT:

choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6)

SSDH:

succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase

GDH:

glutamate dehydrogenase

G-6-PDH:

glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

6-PG:

6-phosphogluconate

R-5-P:

ribulose-5-phosphate

6-PGDH:

6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase

GABAse:

GABA-transaminase and succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase

DTT:

dithiothreitol

PMSF:

phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride

HAP:

hydroxylapatite

SDS:

sodium dodecyl sulfate.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA

    Jang-Yen Wu

  2. Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA

    Y. Y. Thomas Su & Dominic M. K. Lam

  3. Department of Biochemistry A, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark

    A. Schousboe

  4. Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria

    Obi Chude

Authors
  1. Jang-Yen Wu
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  2. Y. Y. Thomas Su
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  3. Dominic M. K. Lam
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  4. A. Schousboe
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  5. Obi Chude
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurochemistry, Rockland Research Institute, Ward’s Island, New York, New York, USA

    Neville Marks

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, London, Great Britain

    Richard Rodnight

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Wu, JY., Su, Y.Y.T., Lam, D.M.K., Schousboe, A., Chude, O. (1981). Assay Methods, Purification, and Characterization of L-Glutamate Decarboxylase and GABA-Transaminase. In: Marks, N., Rodnight, R. (eds) Research Methods in Neurochemistry. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7757-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7757-7_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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