title: Taurine: stimulation of pineal N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin production via a beta-adrenergic mechanism.
abstract: Pineal glands convert [3H]tryptophan to [3H]N-acetylserotonin and [3H]melatonin in organ culture. Taurine treatment increases the rate of production of these compounds 40- and 25-fold respectively by stimulating the activity of N-acetyltransferase. This stimulation is blocked stereospecifically by L-propranolol, indicating that taurine is probably acting via beta-adrenergic receptors. Taurine is active in stimulating N-acetyltransferase activity in denervated glands, suggesting that it might interact directly with the beta-adrenergic receptor, and not by causing the release of norepinephrine from nerve terminals.
mesh_terms: D000121:Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003714:Denervation; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000201:enzymology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects*; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D013654:Taurine; D014364:Tryptophan; D011433:Propranolol; D000121:Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D008550:Melatonin; D009638:Norepinephrine