(R)-4-Amino-3-hydroxybutyric Acid (Synonyms: L-γ-Amino-β-hydroxybutyric Acid, R-(–)-γ-Amino-β-hydroxybutyric Acid, (R)-GABOB, (–)-β-Hydroxy-GABA, (R)-(–)-3-Hydroxy-GABA)

(R)-4-Amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid is a GABA receptor modulator.¹ It binds to GABA_A and GABA_B receptors (IC₅₀s = 1 and 0.35 µM, respectively) and inhibits GABA uptake in rat brain synaptosomes (IC₅₀ = 67 µM). (R)-4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid is also a GABA_C receptor agonist that induces currents in a patch-clamp assay using Xenopus oocytes expressing the human receptor (EC₅₀ = 19 µM).² In vivo, (R)-4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid (20 mg/animal) inhibits electrical discharges in the amygdala in a cat model of N-amidinobenzamide-induced seizures.³

1.Falch, E., Hedegaard, A., Nielsen, L., et al.Comparative stereostructure-activity studies on GABAA and GABAB receptor sites and GABA uptake using rat brain membrane preparationsJ. Neurochem.47(3)898-903(1986) 2.Hinton, T., Chebib, M., and Johnston, G.A.R.Enantioselective actions of 4-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid and (3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl)methylphosphinic acid at recombinant GABAC receptorsBioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.18(1)402-404(2008) 3.Katayama, Y., and Mori, A.Inhibitory action of (3R)-(-)-4-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid on N-amidinobenzamide induced seizure activity in cat brainIRCS Med. Sci.5(9)437(1977)