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Role of taurine in the central nervous system.
- Source :
-
Journal of Biomedical Science . 2010 Supplement 1, Vol. 17, p1-6. 6p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Diagram, 1 Graph. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Taurine demonstrates multiple cellular functions including a central role as a neurotransmitter, as a trophic factor in CNS development, in maintaining the structural integrity of the membrane, in regulating calcium transport and homeostasis, as an osmolyte, as a neuromodulator and as a neuroprotectant. The neurotransmitter properties of taurine are illustrated by its ability to elicit neuronal hyperpolarization, the presence of specific taurine synthesizing enzyme and receptors in the CNS and the presence of a taurine transporter system. Taurine exerts its neuroprotective functions against the glutamate induced excitotoxicity by reducing the glutamate-induced increase of intracellular calcium level, by shifting the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bad ratio in favor of cell survival and by reducing the ER stress. The presence of metabotropic taurine receptors which are negatively coupled to phospholipase C (PLC) signaling pathway through inhibitory G proteins is proposed, and the evidence supporting this notion is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10217770
- Volume :
- 17
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Biomedical Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 59176811
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1423-0127-17-S1-S1