ContaminantDB: Taurine

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (25)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2014-08-29 06:51:15 UTC

Update Date

2026-05-14 17:22:19 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM003393

Identification

Common Name

Taurine

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Taurine is a sulfur amino acid like methionine, cystine, cysteine and homocysteine. It is a lesser-known amino acid because it is not incorporated into the structural building blocks of protein. Yet taurine is an essential amino acid in pre-term and newborn infants of humans and many other species. Adults can synthesize their own taurine, yet are probably dependent in part on dietary taurine. Taurine is abundant in the brain, heart, breast, gallbladder and kidney and has important roles in health and disease in these organs. Taurine has many diverse biological functions serving as a neurotransmitter in the brain, a stabilizer of cell membranes and a facilitator in the transport of ions such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Taurine is highly concentrated in animal and fish protein, which are good sources of dietary taurine. It can be synthesized by the body from cysteine when vitamin B6 is present. Deficiency of taurine occurs in premature infants and neonates fed formula milk, and in various disease states. Inborn errors of taurine metabolism have been described. OMIM 168605, an unusual neuropsychiatric disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion through 3 generations of a family. Symptoms began late in the fifth decade in 6 affected persons and death occurred after 4 to 6 years. The earliest and most prominent symptom was mental depression not responsive to antidepressant drugs or electroconvulsive therapy. Sleep disturbances, exhaustion and marked weight loss were features. Parkinsonism developed later, and respiratory failure occurred terminally. OMIM 145350 describes congestive cardiomyopathy and markedly elevated urinary taurine levels (about 5 times normal). Other family members had late or holosystolic mitral valve prolapse and elevated urinary taurine values (about 2.5 times normal). In 2 with mitral valve prolapse, congestive cardiomyopathy eventually developed while the amounts of urinary taurine doubled. Taurine, after GABA, is the second most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its inhibitory effect is one source of taurine's anticonvulsant and antianxiety properties. It also lowers glutamic acid in the brain, and preliminary clinical trials suggest taurine may be useful in some forms of epilepsy. Taurine in the brain is usually associated with zinc or manganese. The amino acids alanine and glutamic acid, as well as pantothenic acid, inhibit taurine metabolism while vitamins A and B6, zinc and manganese help build taurine. Cysteine and B6 are the nutrients most directly involved in taurine synthesis. Taurine levels have been found to decrease significantly in many depressed patients. One reason that the findings are not entirely clear is because taurine is often elevated in the blood of epileptics who need it. It is often difficult to distinguish compensatory changes in human biochemistry from true metabolic or deficiency disease. Low levels of taurine are found in retinitis pigmentosa. Taurine deficiency in experimental animals produces degeneration of light-sensitive cells. Therapeutic applications of taurine to eye disease are likely to be forthcoming. Taurine has many important metabolic roles. Supplements can stimulate prolactin and insulin release. The parathyroid gland makes a peptide hormone called glutataurine (glutamic acid-taurine), which further demonstrates taurine's role in endocrinology. Taurine increases bilirubin and cholesterol excretion in bile, critical to normal gallbladder function. It seems to inhibit the effect of morphine and potentiates the effects of opiate antagonists. Low plasma taurine levels have been found in a variety of conditions, i.e., depression, hypertension, hypothyroidism, gout, institutionalized patients, infertility, obesity, kidney failure and others.

Contaminant Sources

EAFUS Chemicals
FooDB Chemicals
HMDB Contaminants - Feces
HMDB Contaminants - Urine
STOFF IDENT Compounds
T3DB toxins
ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals

Contaminant Type

Amine
Animal Toxin
Food Toxin
Metabolite
Natural Compound
Organic Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
2-Aminoethanesulfonic acid	ChEBI
2-Aminoethyl sulfonate	ChEBI
Aminoethylsulfonic acid	ChEBI
beta-Aminoethylsulfonic acid	ChEBI
2-Aminoethanesulfonate	Generator
2-Aminoethanesulphonate	Generator
2-Aminoethanesulphonic acid	Generator
2-Aminoethyl sulfonic acid	Generator
2-Aminoethyl sulphonate	Generator
2-Aminoethyl sulphonic acid	Generator
Aminoethylsulfonate	Generator
Aminoethylsulphonate	Generator
Aminoethylsulphonic acid	Generator
b-Aminoethylsulfonate	Generator
b-Aminoethylsulfonic acid	Generator
b-Aminoethylsulphonate	Generator
b-Aminoethylsulphonic acid	Generator
beta-Aminoethylsulfonate	Generator
beta-Aminoethylsulphonate	Generator
beta-Aminoethylsulphonic acid	Generator
Β-aminoethylsulfonate	Generator
Β-aminoethylsulfonic acid	Generator
Β-aminoethylsulphonate	Generator
Β-aminoethylsulphonic acid	Generator
1-Aminoethane-2-sulfonate	HMDB
1-Aminoethane-2-sulfonic acid	HMDB
2-Aminoethylsulfonate	HMDB
2-Aminoethylsulfonic acid	HMDB
2-Sulfoethylamine	HMDB
Taurine hydrochloride	HMDB
Taurine zinc salt (2:1)	HMDB
Taurine, monopotassium salt	HMDB
Taufon	HMDB
Tauphon	HMDB

Chemical Formula

C₂H₇NO₃S

Average Molecular Mass

125.147 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

125.015 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

107-35-7

IUPAC Name

2-aminoethane-1-sulfonic acid

Traditional Name

taurine

SMILES

NCCS(O)(=O)=O

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/C2H7NO3S/c3-1-2-7(4,5)6/h1-3H2,(H,4,5,6)

InChI Key

XOAAWQZATWQOTB-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of organic compounds known as organosulfonic acids. Organosulfonic acids are compounds containing the sulfonic acid group, which has the general structure RS(=O)2OH (R is not a hydrogen atom).

Kingdom

Organic compounds

Super Class

Organic acids and derivatives

Class

Organic sulfonic acids and derivatives

Sub Class

Organosulfonic acids and derivatives

Direct Parent

Organosulfonic acids

Alternative Parents

Substituents

Alkanesulfonic acid
Sulfonyl
Organosulfonic acid
Organic nitrogen compound
Organic oxygen compound
Organopnictogen compound
Organic oxide
Hydrocarbon derivative
Primary amine
Organosulfur compound
Organonitrogen compound
Primary aliphatic amine
Amine
Aliphatic acyclic compound

Molecular Framework

Aliphatic acyclic compounds

External Descriptors

amino sulfonic acid (CHEBI:15891 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Endogenous

Cellular Locations

Extracellular
Membrane
Peroxisome

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Brain
Epidermis
Erythrocyte
Fibroblasts
Intestine
Keratinocyte
Kidney
Leukocyte
Liver
Lymphocyte
Muscle
Nerve Cells
Nervous Tissues
Neuron
Pancreas
Placenta
Platelet
Prostate
Retina
Skeletal Muscle

Pathways

Name	SMPDB Link	KEGG Link
Bile Acid Biosynthesis	SMP00035	Not Available
Taurine and Hypotaurine Metabolism	SMP00021	map00430
Molybdenium Cofactor Deficiency	SMP00203	Not Available

Applications

Not Available

Biological Roles

Chemical Roles

antioxidant

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

White powder.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	300°C
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	80.7 mg/mL

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
Water Solubility	105 g/L	ALOGPS
logP	-2.2	ALOGPS
logP	-2.6	ChemAxon
logS	-0.08	ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Acidic)	-1.5	ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Basic)	9.34	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	4	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	2	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	80.39 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	2	ChemAxon
Refractivity	24.61 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	10.82 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	No	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Pegasus III TOF-MS system, Leco; GC 6890, Agilent Technologies) (3 TMS)	splash10-0032-1901000000-5373a9d32fa1f29b8012	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Pegasus III TOF-MS system, Leco; GC 6890, Agilent Technologies) (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0032-0901000000-f7cf5a7ef7741fe71454	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Pegasus III TOF-MS system, Leco; GC 6890, Agilent Technologies) (3 TMS)	splash10-00di-9802000000-c315203efd199b1871e7	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0032-1901000000-5373a9d32fa1f29b8012	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0032-0901000000-f7cf5a7ef7741fe71454	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Non-derivatized)	splash10-00di-9802000000-c315203efd199b1871e7	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0f9t-0902000000-41e2bea3bce85bb00386	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-EI-TOF (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0f9t-0902000000-41e2bea3bce85bb00386	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-000x-9000000000-fc8f496bf8d00c37dd84	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 10V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-004i-0900000000-57e6677f8d16d2985bfc	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 25V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-0006-9100000000-6c843965de2368577a54	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 40V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-0006-9200000000-bc9330a846bf43b4bd3f	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Positive	splash10-001i-0910000000-3db15ccd0e35f4d28cff	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Positive	splash10-0uk9-9800000000-2b8831b551e784a41008	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Positive	splash10-0a4i-0900000000-773b190e6818e815f3c9	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Positive	splash10-000i-9000000000-a6f41eee062c4713d181	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Positive	splash10-004i-0920000000-a558d03e31ae58106185	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Positive	splash10-0a4i-0900000000-9cd32466db0b0c9c5c55	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Positive	splash10-004i-0900000000-06101a50ac12515e4fd0	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Positive	splash10-004i-0900000000-10d63d9e046e843a5fca	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Negative	splash10-006t-0890202100-ef2de9b47cafa707f789	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Negative	splash10-004i-9300000000-530438ccab9f22503af5	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Negative	splash10-00di-0900000000-ad642e440d924dfd8e20	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Negative	splash10-006t-0097000000-24cfd722ea30b6a3b22d	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Negative	splash10-006t-0790202100-45d57f0101d4cefbc981	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Negative	splash10-004i-9300000000-bd1f04d82f9e675f2303	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Negative	splash10-00di-0900000000-d411fff703670832e445	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-ITFT (LTQ Orbitrap XL, Thermo Scientfic) , Negative	splash10-006t-0098000000-c86b66ff71cff513520f	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QQ (API3000, Applied Biosystems) 10V, Negative	splash10-00di-0900000000-31f44189a2671cf5d2e9	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QQ (API3000, Applied Biosystems) 20V, Negative	splash10-00e9-6900000000-cc7fe1badfe13959526d	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QQ (API3000, Applied Biosystems) 30V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-ae6465f92e91cfad7276	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QQ (API3000, Applied Biosystems) 40V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-af0ea33a51fe79abee00	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QQ (API3000, Applied Biosystems) 50V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-27d6c7ae55f73bb21b3c	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - LC-ESI-QQ (API3000, Applied Biosystems) 10V, Positive	splash10-004i-2900000000-a48be30a953f106419c0	Spectrum
MS	Mass Spectrum (Electron Ionization)	splash10-0036-9000000000-a96a1a8b53b1b556f6ca	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
2D NMR	[1H,1H] 2D NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
2D NMR	[1H,13C] 2D NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum