General Description
Large white crystals or white powder.
Reactivity Profile
L-TAURINE(107-35-7) is an amino acid found in combination with bile acids [Hawley].
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Health Hazard
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: This material evolves highly toxic fumes when heated to decomposition, and may cause irritation on contact.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data are not available for this chemical, but L-TAURINE is probably combustible.
Chemical Properties
Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid with a bitter taste and sharp flavor. It is a nonessential amino acid by definition because the body can synthesize it from methionine and cysteine.
Chemical Properties
White crystalline powder
Occurrence
Reported found in beef, black beans, chicken, chick peas, clams, cod, fish, lamb, milk, octopus, oysters, pistachios, pork, scallops, shrimp and other natural sources.
Uses
Taurine is an organic acid found in animal tissues and is a major constituent of bile. Taurine has many biological roles such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stab
ilization and modulation of calcium signaling.
Uses
vitamin B1, enzyme cofactor
Definition
ChEBI: An amino sulfonic acid that is the 2-amino derivative of ethanesulfonic acid. It is a naturally occurring amino acid derived from methionine and cysteine metabolism. An abundant component of fish- and meat-based foods, it has been used as an oral suppleme
t in the treatment of disorders such as cystic fibrosis and hypertension.
Biosynthesis
In addition to the intake of taurine directly from the diet, the animal body can also biosynthesis in the liver. The intermediate product of methionine and cysteine metabolism, cysteine, is decarboxylated to taurine by cysteine decarboxylase (CSAD), and then oxidized to taurine. CSAD is considered to be the rate limiting enzyme of taurine biosynthesis in mammals, and compared with other mammals, the activity of human CSAD is lower, which may be due to the low taurine synthesis ability in human body. Taurine can participate in the formation of taurocholic acid and hydroxyethyl sulfonic acid after decomposition in vivo. The amount of taurine required depends on cholic acid binding capacity and muscle content.
Hazard
Toxic by ingestion.
Biological Activity
One of the most abundant free amino acids in the brain. A partial agonist at the inhibitory glycine receptor.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Non-selective endogenous agonist at glycine receptors. Conditionally essential sulfonated amino acid which modulates apoptosis in some cells; functions in many metabolic activities; a product of methionine and cysteine metabolism.
Pharmacology
Taurine is an organic osmotic regulator. It not only participates in the regulation of cell volume, but also provides the basis for the formation of bile salts. It also plays an important role in the modulation of intracellular free calcium concentration. Although taurine is a special amino acid not included in proteins, taurine is the most abundant amino acid in brain, retina and muscle tissue. Taurine is widely used, such as in the function of central nervous system, cell protection, cardiomyopathy, renal insufficiency, abnormal development of renal function and retinal nerve injury. Almost all eye tissues contain taurine. The quantitative analysis of rat eye tissue extract showed that taurine was the most abundant amino acid in retina, vitreous, lens, cornea, iris and ciliary body. Many studies have found that taurine is an active substance that regulates the normal physiological activities of the body. It has the functions of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, maintaining the osmotic pressure balance of the body, maintaining normal visual function, regulating the calcium balance of cells, reducing blood sugar, regulating nerve conduction, participating in endocrine activities, regulating lipid digestion and absorption, increasing the contractility of the heart, improving the immune capacity of the body, and enhancing the antioxidant capacity of cell membrane Protect a wide range of biological functions such as cardiomyocytes.
Veterinary Drugs and Treatments
Taurine has proven beneficial in preventing retinal degeneration
and the prevention and treatment of taurine-deficiency dilated
cardiomyopathy in cats. Although modern commercial feline diets
have added taurine, some cats still develop taurine-deficiency associated
dilated cardiomyopathy. It may also be of benefit in taurine
(±carnitine) deficient cardiomyopathy in American Cocker
Spaniels and certain other breeds such as, Golden Retrievers,
Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Dalmations, Portuguese
Water Dogs, and English Bulldogs. Preliminary studies have shown
evidence that it may be useful as adjunctive treatment for cardiac
disease in animals even if taurine deficiency is not present. Because
of its low toxicity, some have suggested it be tried for a multitude
of conditions in humans and animals; unfortunately, little scientific
evidence exists for these uses.
