Cited by 131Aldose Reductase and TaurineSulfur Compounds in BiologyAmino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism

Taurine biosynthesis by neurons and astrocytes

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Vitvitsky, Victor, Garg, Sanjay K., Banerjee, Ruma·2011·Journal of Biological Chemistry

Abstract

The physiological roles of taurine, a product of cysteine degradation and one of the most abundant amino acids in the body, remain elusive. Taurine deficiency leads to heart dysfunction, brain development abnormalities, retinal degradation, and other pathologies. The taurine synthetic pathway is proposed to be incomplete in astrocytes and neurons, and metabolic cooperation between these cell types is reportedly needed to complete the pathway. In this study, we analyzed taurine synthesis capability as reported by incorporation of radioactivity from [(35)S]cysteine into taurine, in primary murine astrocytes and neurons, and in several transformed cell lines (human (SH-SY5Y) and murine (N1E-115) neuroblastoma, human astrocytoma (U-87 MG and 1321 N1), and rat glioma (C6)). Extensive incorporation of radioactivity from [(35)S]cysteine into taurine was observed in rat glioma cells as well as in primary mouse astrocytes and neurons, establishing the presence of an intact taurine synthesis pathway in these cells. Interestingly, exposure of cells to cysteine or cysteamine resulted in elevated intracellular hypotaurine without a corresponding increase in taurine levels, suggesting that oxidation of hypotaurine limits taurine synthesis in cells. Consistent with its role as an organic osmolyte, taurine synthesis was stimulated under hypertonic conditions in neurons.

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Crossref · 10.1074/jbc.m111.253344

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  • Taurine is essential for brain development and can be produced by neurons and astrocytes or transported through the blood-brain-barrier via TauT.

    “Taurine is essential for brain development (Kilb and Fukuda, 2017; Tochitani, 2017) and can be produced by neurons and astrocytes (Vitvitsky et al., 2011) or transported through the blood-brain-barrier via the Taurine transporter TauT (Benrabh et al., 1995).”

    From Human Gut Microbiota from Autism Spectrum Disorder Promote Behavioral Symptoms in Mice (2019) · cites this paper as Vitvitsky et al., 2011

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Authors
Vitvitsky, V., Garg, S. K., & Banerjee, R.
Affiliations
University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Banerjee, Ruma
Venue
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-09
Volume
286
Issue
37
Pages
32002-32010
ISSN
0021-9258 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2037184235
Cited by
131
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK64959, R01DK064959)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Aldose Reductase and Taurine
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Sulfur Compounds in Biology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
Keywords
taurine biosynthesis, cysteine degradation, astrocytes, neurons, cysteamine, cysteine, hypertonicity, osmolytes, taurine deficiency, glioma cells, neuroblastoma cells, astrocytoma cells
MeSH terms
Animals, Astrocytes, Cysteine, Humans, Isotope Labeling, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Neurons, Osmotic Pressure, Oxidation-Reduction, Taurine, Cell Line, Tumor, Mice, Rats

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