Biomaterial Database

Accumulation of taurine by cultured retinal pigment epithelium of the rat. 1977

R B Edwards

Cultured rat retinal pigment epithelium actively accumulates taurine against a concentration gradient; an intracellular concentration of 12 mM is maintained at an extracellular taurine concentration of 0.12 mM. Taurine accumulation conforms to Michaelis-Menten kinetics for extracellular taurine concentrations between 0.006 and 0.05 mM; within that range the Km is 16 muM and the Vmax is 2.3 nmol./hr./mul of cells. Above an extracellular concentration of 0.5 mM the kinetics are complex. Accumulation is inhibited by reduced temperature and iodoacetate as well as by dinitrophenol in the absence of glucose. Ouabain, reduced extracellular sodium, and removal of extracellular potassium and calcium also inhibit taurine accumulation. The cells also release previously accumulated taurine at half-time of 1 to 3 hours. The rapid accumulation and release of taurine by cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells is consistent with the idea that this tissue is a site for the transport of taurine in vivo.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007461	Iodoacetates	Iodinated derivatives of acetic acid. Iodoacetates are commonly used as alkylating sulfhydryl reagents and enzyme inhibitors in biochemical research.	Iodoacetic Acids,Acids, Iodoacetic
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D009994	Osmolar Concentration	The concentration of osmotically active particles in solution expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per liter of solution. Osmolality is expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per kilogram of solvent.	Ionic Strength,Osmolality,Osmolarity,Concentration, Osmolar,Concentrations, Osmolar,Ionic Strengths,Osmolalities,Osmolar Concentrations,Osmolarities,Strength, Ionic,Strengths, Ionic
D010042	Ouabain	A cardioactive glycoside consisting of rhamnose and ouabagenin, obtained from the seeds of Strophanthus gratus and other plants of the Apocynaceae; used like DIGITALIS. It is commonly used in cell biological studies as an inhibitor of the NA(+)-K(+)-EXCHANGING ATPASE.	Acocantherin,G-Strophanthin,Acolongifloroside K,G Strophanthin
D010857	Pigment Epithelium of Eye	The layer of pigment-containing epithelial cells in the RETINA; the CILIARY BODY; and the IRIS in the eye.	Eye Pigment Epithelium
D011188	Potassium	An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004140	Dinitrophenols	Organic compounds that contain two nitro groups attached to a phenol.
D005947	Glucose	A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement.	Dextrose,Anhydrous Dextrose,D-Glucose,Glucose Monohydrate,Glucose, (DL)-Isomer,Glucose, (alpha-D)-Isomer,Glucose, (beta-D)-Isomer,D Glucose,Dextrose, Anhydrous,Monohydrate, Glucose