• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.320-328
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• 2021

High GABA-enriched yeast extract, for various nutritionally and pharmaceutically important functional foods, was prepared using a novel isolate of Debaryomyces hansenii JBCC541. Under optimized conditions, GABA conversion rates are significantly enhanced up to 7.55 g/l by D. hansenii JBCC541, increasing their synthesis yield 40 times. The total amino acid content of the prepared yeast extract was 10733.86 mg/l (257.36 mg/g), consisting of alanine, lysine, glutamine, leucine, and valine as the primary amino acids. The GABA content was significantly enhanced up to 6790 mg/l (162.80 mg/g) in the presence of glutamic acid, with approximately 10-fold higher GABA production. Flavor amino acids were also highly enhanced, indicating that the prepared yeast extract might be useful for preparing various functional and sensuous foods. Our results were promising as a GABA-enriched yeast extract preparation tool ensuring a suitable food material level with the potential for functionally enhanced food industrial applications.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.248-255
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• 2023

Objective: Stress factors such as high temperatures, overcrowding, and diurnal temperature range exert profound negative effects on weight gain and productivity of broiler chickens. The potential of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) as an excitatory neurotransmitter was evaluated under various stress conditions in this study. Methods: The experiment was conducted under four different environmental conditions: normal, high temperature, overcrowded, and in an overcrowded-diurnal temperature range. The experimental groups were divided into (-) control group without stress, (+) control group with stress, and G50 group (GABA 50 mg/kg) with stress. Weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were measured, and stress reduction was evaluated through hematologic analysis. Results: The effects of GABA on broilers in four experimental treatments were evaluated. GABA treated responded to environmental stress and improved productivity in all the experimental treatments. The magnitude of stress observed was highest at high temperature, followed by the overcrowded environment, and was least for the overcrowded-diurnal temperature range. Conclusion: Various stress factors in livestock rearing environment can reduce productivity and increase disease incidence and mortality rate. To address these challenges, GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, was shown to reduce stress caused due to various environmental conditions and improve productivity.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.316-322
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• 2011

Lactobacillus sakei OPK2-59 isolated from kimchi was found to have ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing ability and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity. When the Lactobacillus sakei OPK2-59 was cultured in MRS broth with 59.13 mM and 177.40 mM monosodium glutamate (MSG), the optimum temperature range and pH for growth were $25-37^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.5, respectively. GABA conversion rates in MRS broth with 59.13 mM and 177.40 mM MSG were 99.58% and 31.00%, respectively at $25^{\circ}C$ and 48 h of cultivation. By using the cell free extract of Lactobacillus sakei OPK2-59, MSG was converted to GABA and the conversion rate was 78.51% at $30^{\circ}C$, pH 5. Conversion of MSG to GABA was enhanced by adding salts such as $CaCl_2$, $FeCl_3$, $MgCl_2$. These data suggest that the ability of Lactobacillus sakei OPK2-59 to produce GABA results from the activity of GAD in the cells and GABA conversion by the cell extract containing GAD can be enhanced by $CaCl_2$, $FeCl_3$, $MgCl_2$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.520-526
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• 2021

Microbial protein is one of the sources of protein in the rumen and can also be the source of glutamate production. Glutamic acid is used as fuel in the metabolic reaction in the body and the synthesis of all proteins for muscle and other cell components, and it is essential for proper immune function. Moreover, it is used as a surfactant, buffer, chelating agent, flavor enhancer, and culture medium, as well as in agriculture for such things as growth supplements. Glutamic acid is a substrate in the bioproduction of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This review provides insights into the role of glutamic acid and glutamic acid-producing microorganisms that contain the glutamate decarboxylase gene. These glutamic acid-producing microorganisms could be used in producing GABA, which has been known to regulate body temperature, increase DM intake and milk production, and improve milk composition. Most of these glutamic acid and GABA-producing microorganisms are lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB), such as the Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus species. Through GABA synthesis, succinate can be produced. With the help of succinate dehydrogenase, propionate, and other metabolites can be produced from succinate. Furthermore, clostridia, such as Clostridium tetanomorphum and anaerobic micrococci, ferment glutamate and form acetate and butyrate during fermentation. Propionate and other metabolites can provide energy through conversion to blood glucose in the liver that is needed for the mammary system to produce lactose and live weight gain. Hence, health status and growth rates in ruminants can be improved through the use of these glutamic acid and/or GABA-producing microorganisms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.447-455
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• 2021

Strains of four Bacillus spp. were respectively inoculated into sterilized soybeans and the free amino acid profiles of the resulting cultures were analyzed to discern their metabolic traits. After 30 days of culture, B. licheniformis showed the highest production of serine, threonine, and glutamic acid; B. subtilis exhibited the highest production of alanine, asparagine, glycine, leucine, proline, tryptophan, and lysine. B. velezensis increased the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration to >200% of that in the control samples. B. sonorensis produced a somewhat similar amino acid profile with B. licheniformis. Comparative genomic analysis of the four Bacillus strains and the genetic profiles of the produced free amino acids revealed that genes involved in glutamate and arginine metabolism were not common to the four strains. The genes gadA/B (encoding a glutamate decarboxylase), rocE (amino acid permease), and puuD (γ-glutamyl-γ-aminobutyrate hydrolase) determined GABA production, and their presence was species-specific. Taken together, B. licheniformis and B. velezensis were respectively shown to have high potential to increase concentrations of glutamic acid and GABA, while B. subtilis has the ability to increase essential amino acid concentrations in fermented soybean foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.154-158
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• 2010

The purposes of this work were to study germination conditions on $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contents and to develop a simple and effective technique for the production of germinated brown rice with an enhanced GABA levels. The samples were subjected to heat treatments at 40 and $45^{\circ}C$ before the soaking step. Moreover, four medicinal plant extracts including Schizandra chinensis, Dimocarpus longan Lour, Angelica dahurica, and Gastrodia elata Blume were used as soaking and germinating media. GABA levels were enhanced in the germinated brown rice compared to the non-germinated brown rice and the highest GABA contents were observed in heat treatment at $35^{\circ}C$. The brown rice soaked in Gastrodia elata Blume extract showed the highest GABA contents compared to the control sample. These results demonstrate that the GABA levels during germination could be significantly enhanced by the heat treatment and the treatment of medicinal plant extracts in the soaking step.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.1201-1206
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• 2010

As a means to increase the production and consumption of the brown colored rice with high content of GABA ($\gamma$-aminobutyric acid), this study was conducted to develop brown colored rice tea. After roasting at various temperatures and times, color values and GABA content of the brown colored rice were analyzed. Physicochemical properties such as browning, turbidity, reducing sugar, soluble solid, total polyphenol and pH of brown colored rice tea were determined after the rice powder was put into tea bags and leached in hot water. Sensory characteristics were investigated for three kinds of tea roasted at $170^{\circ}C$ for 10, 20 and 30 min. As the roasting temperature and time increased, L, a and b values decreased as well as GABA content. The brown colored rice roasted at $170^{\circ}C$ for 10 min contained the highest content of GABA. Browning, turbidity, reducing sugar, soluble solid and total polyphenol of the brown colored rice tea increased as the roasting temperature and time increased, on the contrary, pH decreased. The brown colored rice tea roasted for 30 min was preferred the most in color, flavor, taste and overall acceptance. From this result, the brown colored rice tea needs to be manufactured by a combination of the brown colored rice roasted at $170^{\circ}C$ for 10 min and 30 min to satisfy the consumer's preference and high content of GABA.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.705-711
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• 2013

Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), known as a non-protein amino acid and major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, has several functional properties such as neurotransmission, induction of hypotension, tranquilizer, and diuretic effects. The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria, producing high GABA in fermented soy curd. Thirty-two strains of tofu-forming lactic acid bacteria were isolated from kimchi which a traditional Korean food fermented with many kind of microorganism. Among 32 strains, four strains (strain No. 10, 104, 214, 249) formed firm soycurd. In order to select lactic acid bacteria having high GABA producing potential, the isolated strains were cultured in the soymilk and fermented for 48 hr at $37^{\circ}C$. A strain No. 383, which showed highest GABA contents in fermented soycurd, was identified as L. sakei by 16S rDNA sequencing and API analysis, and named as L. sakei 383. L. sakei 383 showed optimal growth up to 24 hr at $35^{\circ}C$ in MRS broth. The optimal time and temperature for GABA production were 18 hr and $35^{\circ}C$ in soymilk. In the optimal condition time and temperature, GABA content of fermented soycurd by L. sakei 383 was 8.65 mg/100 g.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.940-946
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• 2008

In the development of a nutrient enhanced functional food, kimchi was produced by using high $\gamma$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing lactic acid bacterium as a starter strain. The strain isolated from kimchi was identified by using an API kit and named Lactobacillus sp. OPK 2-59. Kimchi was produced by 3 methods 1) monosodium glutamate (MSG) added (M group); 2) starter added (S group); 3) MSG+starter added (M&S group). The produced kimchi was fermented for 24 hr in an incubator at a temperature of $15^{\circ}C$ and stored at $0-1^{\circ}C$ to examine its characteristics. The M&S group exhibited a sharper increase in acidity and a steeper fall in pH as well as a higher number of lactobacilli. The M&S group kimchi had 18 mg/100 g (fresh weight, f.w.) of GABA, whereas the M and S group each had 6 mg/100 g (f.w.) GABA. According to functional evaluation, the M&S group kimchi, which has higher GABA, was not significantly different in taste, color, texture, or smell, but the M&S group was generally superior. In summary, using Lactobacillus sp. OPK 2-59 and MSG, a high quality kimchi with increased GABA content can be produced as a functional food.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1216-1222
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• 2017

To develop starters for the production of functional foods or materials, lactic acid bacteria producing ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA) were screened from jeotgals, Korean fermented seafoods. One isolate producing a high amount of GABA from monosodium $\text\tiny{L}$-glutamate (MSG) was identified as Enterococcus avium by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. E. avium M5 produced $18.47{\pm}1.26mg/ml$ GABA when incubated for 48 h at $37^{\circ}C$ in MRS broth with MSG (3% (w/v)). A gadB gene encoding glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) was cloned and overexpressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) using the pET26b (+) expression vector. Recombinant GAD was purified through a Ni-NTA column and the size was estimated to be 53 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Maximum GAD activity was observed at pH 4.5 and $55^{\circ}C$and the activity was dependent on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values of GAD were $3.26{\pm}0.21mM$ and $0.0120{\pm}0.0001mM/min$, respectively, when MSG was used as a substrate. Enterococcus avium M5 secretes a lot of GABA when grown on MRS with MSG, and the strain is useful for the production of fermented foods containing a high amount of GABA.