Summary
The synthesis of taurine fromN-acetylcysteine has been examined in ratsin vivo and in rat hepatocyte suspensionsin vitro. In ratsin vivo, administration ofN-acetylcysteine significantly increased urinary taurine (3 fold) 24h after dosing and liver glutathione levels. Liver taurine was not increased significantly. In hepatocytes incubated in the presence ofN-acetylcysteine, glutathione concentration increased to a maximum after 1 hour but the increase was not dependent on the concentration ofN-acetylcysteine. In contrast, after an initial lag phase, taurine synthesis increased in relation to the concentration ofN-acetylcysteine and continued for 3 hours. Glutathione synthesis seems to be preferential to taurine synthesis. Taurine synthesis from cysteine sulphinate was greater and from hypotaurine was greatest and maximal after 1 hour. Implications for the mechanism of protection byN-acetylcysteine are discussed.
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Waterfield, C.J., Timbrell, J.A. The biosynthesis of taurine fromN-acetyl-l-cysteine and other precursorsin vivo and in rat hepatocytes. Amino Acids 10, 173–185 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00806590
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00806590