Dietary GABA induces endogenous synthesis of a novel imidazole peptide homocarnosine in mouse skeletal muscles

Carnosine (beta-alanyl-l-histidine) is an imidazole dipeptide present at high concentrations in skeletal muscles, where it plays a beneficial role. However, oral intake of carnosine or beta-alanine to increase skeletal muscle carnosine levels has disadvantages such as low efficiency and side effects. Therefore, we proposed homocarnosine (gamma-aminobutyryl-l-histidine) as a novel alternative imidazole peptide for skeletal muscle based on its structural similarity to carnosine. To induce endogenous homocarnosine synthesis in skeletal muscles, mice were fed a basal diet mixed with 0, 0.5, 2, or 5% gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for 6 weeks. As expected, in the control group (0% GABA), GABA and homocarnosine were present in trace concentrations. Skeletal muscle homocarnosine levels were significantly increased in the 2% and 5% GABA intake groups (tenfold, P < 0.01 and 53-fold, P < 0.01; respectively) relative to those of the control group, whereas 0.5% GABA intake induced no such effect. GABA intake had no effect on the levels of carnosine, anserine, and beta-alanine. Vigabatrin (inhibitor of GABA transaminase (GABA-T)) administration to mice receiving 2% GABA intake for 2 weeks led to GABA-T inhibition in the liver. Subsequently, a 43-fold increase in circulating GABA levels and a tendency increase in skeletal muscle homocarnosine levels were observed. Therefore, skeletal muscle homocarnosine synthesis can be induced by supplying its substrate GABA in tissues. As GABA availability is tightly regulated by GABA-T via GABA degradation, inhibitors of GABA or beta-alanine degradation could be novel potential interventions for increasing skeletal muscle imidazole dipeptides.