γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that binds selective transmembrane receptors, resulting in gating of ion channels in the central nervous system. GABA that is released from the receptors is degraded by GABA-transaminase. Gabaculine (3-Amino-2,3-dihydrobenzoic acid) is a neurotoxin that was first isolated from Streptomyces toyocaenis and is a conformationally constrained analog of GABA. Gabaculine inhibits GABA-transaminase, which results in an increase of endogenous GABA in the brain and spinal cord.

3-Amino-2,3-dihydrobenzoic acid hydrochloride potently and specifically inhibits GABA-transaminase (GABA-T), resulting in inhibited degradation of GABA. May inhibit glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), though it is 1000-fold more effective as a GABA-T inhibitor than as a GAD inhibitor.