4-Amino-1-butanol

The structural relation of 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD) to γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is analogous to the relation of 4-amino-1-butanol to GABA. 1,4-BD is a known prodrug of GHB which is converted into it through the actions of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). γ-Hydroxybutyraldehyde (GHBAL) is an intermediate in this pathway, whereas the analogous intermediate structure for 4-amino-1-butanol and GABA is γ-aminobutyraldehyde (GABAL). Similar to the conversion of 1,4-BD into GHB, 4-amino-1-butanol is converted into GABAL by aldehyde reductase (ALR) and GABAL is converted into GABA by ALDH.