Metabolism and functions of GABA

当植物中的一整套基因和蛋白质序列变得可用时，人们越来越需要了解蛋白质的结构/功能和代谢调节。在过去的二十年里，我的实验室在植物的代谢和功能方面发展了国际公认的领先地位(S)，即氨基酸γ-氨基丁酸酯(GABA)和短链脂肪酸伽马-羟基丁酸酯(GHB)，它与GABA非常相似。它们是哺乳动物神经系统的内源性成分，其中GABA在神经传递和发育中发挥作用，并通过与特定受体的相互作用发挥功能，而GHB作为神经递质或神经调节剂，假设通过GABAB受体或独立的GHB特异性受体发挥作用。GABA和GHB在植物中的生理作用尚不清楚，但有证据表明，它们与胁迫和交流有关。我们的研究涉及一种创新和综合的方法，使用生理、生化和生物技术方法来识别和了解与这些代谢物相关的基因/蛋白质和途径的调节。我们的结果不仅将促进基础知识的发展，而且还将为工程抗逆性或在植物中合成新型生物塑料以及应激诱导损伤的生物标志物提供潜在的靶标。

At a time when the entire set of gene and protein sequences in plants is becoming available, there is increasing need to understand protein structure/function and metabolic regulation. For the past two decades, my laboratory has developed internationally recognized leadership in the metabolism and function(s) in plants, of the amino acid gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) and the short-chain fatty acid gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), which closely resembles GABA. They are endogenous constituents of the mammalian nervous system, wherein GABA plays a role in neural transmission and development, and functions through interactions with specialized receptors, and GHB serves as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator postulated to act via a GABAB receptor or an independent GHB-specific receptor. The physiological roles of GABA and GHB in plants are not yet clear, but evidence suggests that they are linked to stress and communication. Our research involves an innovative and integrative approach using physiological, biochemical, and biotechnological methods to identify and understand the regulation of genes/proteins and pathways associated with these metabolites. Our results will not only advance fundamental knowledge, but also suggest potential targets for engineering stress resistance or the synthesis of novel bioplastics in plants, as well as biomarkers for stress-induced injury.