Hypotaurine

<p>Hypotaurine is a <a href="/facts/Sulfinic_acid/Ur6P5qNX">sulfinic acid</a> that is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of <a href="/facts/Taurine/Gol6r2l3">taurine</a>. Like taurine, it also acts as an <a href="/facts/Endogenous/DFkSLkRI">endogenous</a> <a href="/facts/Neurotransmitter/LlpYFSU3">neurotransmitter</a> via action on the <a href="/facts/Glycine_receptor/jwVgXdrJ">glycine receptors</a>. It is an <a href="/facts/Osmolyte/Cdxr1uj9">osmolyte</a> with <a href="/facts/Antioxidant/4TG4MQ83">antioxidant</a> properties.
</p><p>Hypotaurine is derived from <a href="/facts/Cysteine/kbqvUm6d">cysteine</a> (and <a href="/facts/Homocysteine/m4cgrRBG">homocysteine</a>). In mammals, the biosynthesis of hypotaurine from cysteine occurs in the pancreas. In the <a href="/facts/Cysteine_sulfinic_acid/WMrpnW3q">cysteine sulfinic acid</a> pathway,  <a href="/facts/Cysteine/kbqvUm6d">cysteine</a> is first oxidized to its sulfinic acid, catalyzed by the enzyme <a href="/facts/Cysteine_dioxygenase/zfP0BfmA">cysteine dioxygenase</a>. Cysteine sulfinic acid, in turn, is decarboxylated by <a href="/facts/Sulfinoalanine_decarboxylase/sbgu0FNI">sulfinoalanine decarboxylase</a> to form hypotaurine. Hypotaurine is enzymatically oxidized to yield taurine by <a href="/facts/Hypotaurine_dehydrogenase/fghzYzCs">hypotaurine dehydrogenase</a>.
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Hypotaurine open-in-new

Hypotaurine