Taurine (/ˈtɔːriːn/ ; IUPAC: 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a naturally occurring organic compound with the chemical formula C2H7NO3S, and is a non-proteinogenic amino sulfonic acid widely distributed in mammalian tissues and organs. Structurally, by containing a sulfonic acid group instead of a carboxylic acid group, it is not involved in protein synthesis but is still usually referred to as an amino acid. As non-proteinogenic amino sulfonic acid, it is not encoded by the genetic code and is distinguished from the protein-building α-amino acids.
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👉 Taurine in the context of Cholic acid
Cholic acid, also known as 3α,7α,12α-trihydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oic acid is a primary bile acid that is insoluble in water (soluble in alcohol and acetic acid), it is a white crystalline substance. Salts of cholic acid are called cholates. Cholic acid, along with chenodeoxycholic acid, is one of the two major bile acids produced by the liver, where it is synthesized from cholesterol. These two major bile acids are roughly equal in concentration in humans. Derivatives are made from cholyl-CoA, which exchanges its CoA with either glycine, or taurine, yielding glycocholic and taurocholic acid, respectively.
Cholic acid downregulates cholesterol-7-α-hydroxylase (rate-limiting step in bile acid synthesis), and cholesterol does the opposite. This is why chenodeoxycholic acid, and not cholic acid, can be used to treat gallstones (because decreasing bile acid synthesis would supersaturate the stones even more).
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Taurine in the context of Bile acid
Bile acids are steroid acids found predominantly in the bile of mammals and other vertebrates. Diverse bile acids are synthesized in the liver in peroxisomes. Bile acids are conjugated with taurine or glycine residues to give anions called bile salts.
Primary bile acids are those synthesized by the liver. Secondary bile acids result from bacterial actions in the colon. In humans, taurocholic acid and glycocholic acid (derivatives of cholic acid) and taurochenodeoxycholic acid and glycochenodeoxycholic acid (derivatives of chenodeoxycholic acid) are the major bile salts. The salts of their 7-alpha-dehydroxylated derivatives, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, are also found, with derivatives of cholic, chenodeoxycholic and deoxycholic acids accounting for over 90% of human biliary bile acids.
Taurine in the context of Taurocholic acid
Taurocholic acid, known also as cholaic acid, cholyltaurine, or acidum cholatauricum, is a deliquescent yellowish crystalline bile acid involved in the emulsification of fats. It occurs as a sodium salt in the bile of mammals. It is a conjugate of cholic acid with taurine. In medical use, it is administered as a cholagogue and choleretic.
Hydrolysis of taurocholic acid yields taurine.
Taurine in the context of Taurochenodeoxycholic acid
Taurochenodeoxycholic acid is a bile acid formed in the liver of most species, including humans, by conjugation of chenodeoxycholic acid with taurine. It is secreted into bile and then into the intestine. It is usually ionized at physiologic pH. However, although it can be crystallized as the sodium salt.
It acts as a detergent to solubilize fats in the small intestine and is itself absorbed by active transport in the terminal ileum.
Taurine in the context of Energy drink
An energy drink is a type of non-alcoholic psychoactive functional beverage containing stimulant compounds, usually caffeine (at a higher concentration than ordinary soft drinks) and taurine, which is marketed as reducing tiredness and improving performance and concentration (marketed as "energy", but distinct from food energy). They may or may not be carbonated and may also contain sugar, as well as other sweeteners, or herbal extracts, among numerous other possible ingredients. Energy drinks are different from sugar-sweetened beverages. While both energy drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages typically contain high levels of sugar, energy drinks include stimulants like caffeine and taurine and are marketed for energy, and sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and fruit juices usually are not.
They are a subset of the larger group of energy products, which includes bars and gels, and are distinct from sports drinks, which are advertised to enhance sports performance. There are many brands and varieties in this drink category.