Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Homemade GABA from monosodium glutamate

Jesse Pinkman - 9-11-2012 at 08:56

I have found some papers for the transformation of glutamate to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It appears that the process is commercialized to produce natural GABA.

Many of the Lactobacillus species from kefir have the ability to convert free glutamate into GABA and sodium glutamate is readily available.
In my opinion this is a nice biochemical reaction for the amateur scientist.

Has anyone tried to produce GABA from glutamate with Lactobacillus species ?



References :
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15285115?dopt=Abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC193868/

Attachment: bioGABA.pdf (555kB)
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Attachment: GABA.pdf (448kB)
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Attachment: Production of gamma-aminobutyric acid by L.brevis.pdf (790kB)
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tkadm30 - 23-11-2012 at 11:29

Nice... :)

I have a few questions thought:

1. Is the reaction - GABA synthesis - occuring endogenously or exogenously ?
2. In case of a endogenous reaction, would there be a way to transform monosodium glutamate with allolactose derivatives instead of probiotics?

Thanks

[Edited on 23-11-2012 by tkadm30]

BlackDragon2712 - 28-10-2013 at 20:20

what about this? I haven't tried it yet but I'm sure it'll worth the time!

R-CH(NH2)-CO2H + Ba(OH)2 -> R-CH2-NH2 + BaCO3 + H2O

So, with this reaction glutamic acid can be transform to a mixture of barium aminobutarate (because of the other acid-head that the molecule has?) and aminobutiric acid, just acidify it after filtering of the insoluble barium carbonate. then, just crystallize it to get the pure gammaaminobutiric acid. but again, i'm just theorising.

Lambda-Eyde - 1-11-2013 at 18:40

Lactobacillus can also be bought from WLP or White Labs. Specialized home brew shops with a good selection will carry these. I do not however know if these are the "right" strain, they are selected for their ability to make sour beers.

Agricola - 2-11-2013 at 11:31

Have a look at the references posted here.