Taurine depletion in the intact animal stimulates in vitro phosphorylation of an approximately 44-kDa protein present in the mitochondrial fraction of the rat heart.
Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 1.5% guanidinoethanesulfonic (GES) acid in their water in order to deplete the taurine levels partially in cardiac tissue. After 6 weeks of GES treatment, in vitro phosphorylation of a approximately 44 kDa protein present in the mitochondrial fraction of the rat heart was increased by 85%. The increase in the in vitro phosphorylation of the specific approximately 44 kDa protein after GES treatment was reversed when the animals were subsequently given 1.5% taurine in their drinking water for an additional 6 weeks. Taurine (1.5%) alone for a period of 6 weeks had no effect on the phosphorylation of the approximately 44 kDa protein. These results suggest that taurine has a regulatory role in the phosphorylation of a specific protein in cardiac tissue.
Department of Pharmacology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock 79430, USA.
J B
JB
Lombardini
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000737:chemistry*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000494:pharmacology
D011506:Proteins; D015091:beta-Alanine; D013654:Taurine; C009558:taurocyamine