N-Acetyl-γ-aminobutyraldehyde explained

N-Acetyl-γ-aminobutyraldehyde (N-acetyl-GABAL), also known as N-acetyl-GABA aldehyde, is a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from putrescine.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} Other intermediates in this pathway include N-acetylputrescine and N-acetyl-γ-aminobutyric acid (N-acetyl-GABA). Enzymes mediating the transformations in this pathway include putrescine acetyltransferase (PAT), monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and an unknown deacetylase enzyme. The pathway is a minor pathway in GABA synthesis compared to the main pathway in which GABA is synthesized from glutamate. However, the pathway has been found to have an important physiological role in the brain, for instance in the production of GABA in the striatum and resultant inhibition of dopaminergic neurons in this brain area.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Nam MH, Sa M, Ju YH, Park MG, Lee CJ . Revisiting the Role of Astrocytic MAOB in Parkinson's Disease . Int J Mol Sci . 23 . 8 . April 2022 . 4453 . 35457272 . 9028367 . 10.3390/ijms23084453 . free .
2. Watanabe M, Maemura K, Kanbara K, Tamayama T, Hayasaki H . GABA and GABA receptors in the central nervous system and other organs . Int Rev Cytol . International Review of Cytology . 213 . 1–47 . 2002 . 11837891 . 10.1016/s0074-7696(02)13011-7 . 978-0-12-364617-0 .
3. Seiler N . Catabolism of polyamines . Amino Acids . 26 . 3 . 217–233 . June 2004 . 15221502. 10.1007/s00726-004-0070-z .
4. Cho HU, Kim S, Sim J, Yang S, An H, Nam MH, Jang DP, Lee CJ . Redefining differential roles of MAO-A in dopamine degradation and MAO-B in tonic GABA synthesis . Exp Mol Med . 53 . 7 . 1148–1158 . July 2021 . 34244591 . 8333267 . 10.1038/s12276-021-00646-3 .
5. Nam MH, Sa M, Ju YH, Park MG, Lee CJ . Revisiting the Role of Astrocytic MAOB in Parkinson's Disease . Int J Mol Sci . 23 . 8 . April 2022 . 4453 . 35457272 . 9028367 . 10.3390/ijms23084453 . free .