Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2023, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (4): 807-808.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.353491

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Taurine: an essential amino sulfonic acid for retinal health

Johnny Di Pierdomenico,  Ana Martínez-Vacas, Serge Picaud, María P. Villegas-Pérez,  Diego García-Ayuso*   

  1. Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain (Di Pierdomenico J, Martínez-Vacas A, Villegas-Pérez MP, García-Ayuso D)
    INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France (Picaud S)
  • Online:2023-04-15 Published:2022-10-29
  • Contact: Diego García-Ayuso, PhD, diegogarcia@um.es.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII): PI19/00203, co-funded by ERDF, “A way to make Europe” to MPVP and DGA, RD16/0008/0026 co-funded by ERDF, “A way to make Europe” to MPVP and RD21/0002/0014 financiado por la Unión Europea – NextGenerationEU; Fundación Robles Chillida to DGA; the RHU LIGHT4DEAF [ANR-15-RHU-0001] and IHU FOReSIGHT [ANR-18-IAHU-0001] to SP.

Abstract: Taurine (2-amino-ethanesulfonic acid) is a naturally occurring amino sulfonic acid derived from cysteine and methionine metabolism. Its common name derives from the ox, as it was first isolated from the bile of an ox (Froger et al., 2014). The molecular structure of taurine differs from that of amino acids by the presence of a sulfonic acid, instead of the more common carboxylic acid group in the structure of amino acids. Despite this, taurine is considered a non-essential amino acid because it can be synthesized endogenously in the liver of most mammals. However, the endogenous synthesis of taurine is insufficient to supply the needs and most of it is obtained through diet.