Description
GABA Aminotransferase (GABA-T/ABAT) Activity Assay Kit
The Assay Genie GABA Aminotransferase (GABA-T) Activity Assay Kit measures GABA transaminase (4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase, ABAT, EC 2.6.1.19) activity in cell and tissue lysates, including brain and liver. GABA-T is the principal enzyme responsible for breaking down the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), converting it to succinic semialdehyde while generating glutamate, and is the target of the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin.
In this kit, GABA transamination is coupled to glutamate dehydrogenase, which produces NADH and reduces the tetrazolium dye INT to a coloured formazan read at 492 nm. A two-stage incubation in a 96-well plate and a per-sample control deliver activity directly in IU/L.
| Product Name: | GABA Aminotransferase Assay Kit |
| SKU: | BR00007 |
| Kit Size: | 100 wells |
| Detection Method: | Colorimetric (GDH-coupled INT → formazan, OD 492 nm) |
| Sample Types: | Cell and tissue lysates, including brain and liver |
| Recommended Protein: | 0.5–4 mg/ml |
| Incubation Time: | 60 min + 60 min at 37 °C |
| Units: | IU/L (µmol/L/min); normalise to protein or GAPDH |
| Equipment Required: | Microplate reader (492 nm) |
| Storage: | -80 °C (see component storage) |
| Intended Use: | For research use only (RUO). Not for diagnostic procedures. |
- Coupled-enzyme format for specific GABA-T readout
- Validated for brain and liver tissue
- Direct activity calculation (IU/L = ΔOD × 10.185)
- Per-sample no-substrate control
- Simple 96-well plate format
- GABA-T transfers the amino group of GABA to α-ketoglutarate, forming succinic semialdehyde and glutamate.
- Glutamate dehydrogenase oxidises the glutamate, producing NADH, which reduces INT to a coloured formazan. Formazan has an absorbance maximum at 492 nm (ε = 18 mM-1cm-1), so activity is calculated directly in IU/L (µmol/L/min) without a standard curve.
- Activity is calculated from ΔOD (reaction − control): IU/L = ΔOD × 10.185.
- Cells: ~105 washed cells in 50–100 µl ice-cold 1x Cell Lysis Solution, 5 min on ice.
- Tissue: ~5 mg tissue homogenised in 0.5 ml ice-cold 1x Cell Lysis Solution.
- Centrifuge at ~14,000 rpm for 5 min; adjust protein to 0.5–4 mg/ml.
| Component | Size | Storage |
| GABAT Substrate | 2 ml | -80 °C |
| TA Assay Solution | 5 ml | -80 °C, protect from light |
| 10x Cell Lysis Solution | 25 ml | Room temperature |
- GABA metabolism and inhibitory neurotransmission
- Epilepsy and anticonvulsant drug research (e.g. vigabatrin)
- Neurological and psychiatric disease models
- Liver nitrogen and amino acid metabolism
Which tissues can I use with the GABA-T kit?
Cell and tissue lysates, including brain and liver, which have high GABA-T activity.
How long does the GABA-T assay take?
Two incubations of 60 min each at 37 °C, about 2 hours plus sample preparation.
How is GABA-T activity calculated?
Subtract the control from the reaction well to obtain ΔOD at 492 nm, then multiply by 10.185 to get IU/L.
