Γ-aminobutyric acid

gamma-Aminobutyric acid

Names
IUPAC name 4-aminobutanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	56-12-2 Y
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:16865 N
ChEMBL	ChEMBL96 Y
ChemSpider	116 Y
DrugBank	DB02530 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.235
EC Number	200-258-6
IUPHAR/BPS	1067
KEGG	D00058 Y
MeSH	gamma-Aminobutyric+Acid
PubChem	119
RTECS number	ES6300000
UNII	2ACZ6IPC6I Y
InChI InChI=1S/C4H9NO2/c5-3-1-2-4(6)7/h1-3,5H2,(H,6,7) Y Key: BTCSSZJGUNDROE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C4H9NO2/c5-3-1-2-4(6)7/h1-3,5H2,(H,6,7) Key: BTCSSZJGUNDROE-UHFFFAOYAC
SMILES C(CC(=O)O)CN
Properties
Chemical formula	C4H9NO2
Molar mass	103.120 g/mol
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)
Solubility in water	130 g/100 mL
log P	−3.17
Acidity (pKa)	4.23 (carboxyl), 10.43 (amino)
Hazards
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).
N  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (γ-Aminobutyric acid) /ˈɡæmə əˈmiːnoʊbjuːˈtɪrᵻk ˈæsᵻd/ (also called GABA /ˈɡæbə/ for short) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. It plays the principal role in reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. In humans, GABA is also directly responsible for the regulation of muscle tone.

Although in chemical terms it is an amino acid (as it has both a primary amine and a carboxylic acid functional group), GABA is rarely referred to as such in the scientific or medical community. By convention the term "amino acid", when used without a qualifier, refers specifically to an alpha amino acid. GABA is not an alpha amino acid, meaning the amino group is not attached the the alpha carbon so it is not incorporated into proteins.