In Vivo and In Vitro Studies on γ-Aminobutyric Acid Metabolism with the Radish Plant ( Raphanus sativus, L.)

Labeled glutamate was rapidly converted to gamma-aminobutyrate in intact, excised radish (Raphanus sativus L., var. Champion) leaves. Labeled gamma-aminobutyrate was metabolized via succinate and the Krebs cycle and was not carboxylated to form glutamate. Administration of carbon-14 and tritium-labeled succinate indicated that less than 10% of the gamma-aminobutyrate formation occurs by amination of succinic semialdehyde. Therefore, most gamma-aminobutyrate formation must be via glutamate decarboxylation.Radish leaf extracts were more active in catalyzing transamination between gamma-aminobutyrate and pyruvate than that between gamma-aminobutyrate and alpha-ketoglutarate. Glutamate decarboxylase was approximately 20 times more active than gamma-aminobutyrate: pyruvate transaminase. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase was found in the extracts, and NAD was much more active as a hydrogen acceptor than NADP. No reduction of succinate to succinic semialdehyde by the NAD-linked dehydrogenase could be demonstrated. The following pH optima were determined: glutamate decarboxylase, 5.9; gamma-aminobutyrate: pyruvate transaminase, 8.9; succinic semialdehyde: NAD dehydrogenase, about 9.0.