Induction of Inflammation Inhibits Taurine Transporter Activity in Murine Macrophage Cell Line

Taurine is synthesized in the body or uptaken from dietary and is distributed in the various organs. It differs from other amino acids by virtue of the fact that a sulfonic acid group replaces the carboxyl group of what would be ${\beta}$-alanine. In order to function within the cell it must be transported into the cells by taurine transporter that is spanned 12 transmembrane domains. The human taurine transporter has long cytoplasmic carboxy and amino termini that may function as regulatory attachment sites for other proteins. Six potential protein kinase C(PKC) phosphorylation sites have been reported in human taurine transporter.