Taurine acts on a subclass of GABAa receptors in mammalian brain in vitro

Taurine, an inhibitory amino acid, potently acts on a subclass of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA a ) receptors. Taurine competitively inhibits [ 3 H]muscimol binding to purified GABA a receptors with an average IC 50 value of 50 μM, and enhances [ 3 H]flunitrazepam binding to GABA a -linked benzodiazepine receptors with an EC 50 of about 10 μM and with maximal extent lower than that for GABA. Taurine shows variable affinities (low micromolar to near millimolar) for muscimol binding sites in different brain regions as measured by autoradiography. The taurine-sensitive GABA sites are enriched in dentate gyrus, substantia nigra, cerebellum molecular layer, median thalamic nuclei, and hippocampal field CA3; these areas are also enriched in mRNA for the GABA-binding β 2 subunit subtype. Taurine shows differential affinities for the multiple muscimol-GABA binding polypeptides present in purified GABA a receptors, notably a higher affinity for a β 55 than a β 58 polypeptide; these probably represent β 2 and β 3 clones, respectively. This work defines a significant target of taurine's inhibitory activity as some GABA a receptor GABA sites, lending support to the hypothesis that this endogenous substance may have a physiological action.