Production of GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) by Lactic Acid Bacteria

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is a kind of pharmacological and biological component and its application is wide and useful in Korea specially, becoming aging society in the near feature. GABA is request special dose for the purposed biological effect but the production of concentrated GABA is very difficult due to low concentration of glutamic acid existed in the fermentation broth. To increase GABA concentrate using fermentation technology, high content of glutamic acid is required. For this reason, various strains which have the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and can convert glutamic acid to GABA, were isolated from various fermented foods. Most of GABA producing strains are lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi, especially added monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a taste enhancer. Optimizing the formulation of culture media and the culture condition, GABA conversion yield and amounts were increased. Finally GABA concentration of fermentation broth in batch or fed batch fermentation reached 660 mM or 1000 mM, respectively. Furthermore formulation of culture media for GABA production developed commercially. Many studies about GABA-rich product have been continued, so GABA-rich kimchi, cheese, yogurt, black raspberry juice and tomato juices has been also developed. In Korea many biological effects of GABA are evaluated recently and GABA will be expected to be used in multipurpose.