NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have identified a site of brain activity for the amino acid taurine, taking a step toward learning how brain cells put it to use.
Researchers at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York said taurine is one of the most plentiful amino acids in the human brain, but neuroscientists are still puzzled by just how brain cells use it.
"We have discovered that taurine is a strong activator of what are known as GABA receptors in a regulatory area of the brain called the thalamus," said study senior author Dr. Neil Harrison, professor of pharmacology and pharmacology in anesthesiology.
"We had discovered these receptors two years ago and showed that they interact with a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) -- the brain's key inhibitory transmitter -- that is also involved in brain development," he said. "It seems that taurine shares these receptors."
Harrison said the finding is a surprise and moves science toward a better understanding of taurine's impact on the brain.
The study is detailed in the Journal of Neuroscience.
