Formation of γ-glutamyl-taurine in the rat brain

Abstract After intraventricular administration of 14 C- or 3 H-labelled taurine, γ-glutamyl-taurine was detected in the protein free extract of rat brain using a combination of ion exchange chromatography, electrophoretic separation and thin-layer chromatography. Under in vitro conditions γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase (EC 2.3.2.2.) prepared from rat brain catalyzes the formation of γ-glutamyl-taurine from taurine and glutathione or γ -glutamyl- p -nitroanilide. The enzymes of the γ-glutamyl cycle are presumed to be responsible for the in vivo metabolism of this dipeptide.