Interrelationship between Taurine and GABA

β-Aminoethanesulfonic acid (taurine) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are recognized as major inhibitory neuroactive amino acids distributed in large quantities in various central nervous system (CNS) areas. The role of GABA as an inhibitory neurotransmitter has been well established, whereas that of taurine is still unclear. In the case of GABA, the structure and function of two types of the GABA receptor, GABAA and GABAB receptors, have been identified, while the taurine receptor is not yet fully understood. However, some very convincing evidence concerning the functional interrelationships between taurine and GABA in the brain has accumulated.