Taurine reduced oxygen free radical production induced by homocysteine in electron transport chain and homocysteine inhibites taurine transporter in mitochondria membrane

AIM: To observe effects of homocysteine and antagonized effects of taurine on electronic leakage and free radical production in myocardial mitochondria. METHODS: Myocardial mitochondria of rat heart was isolated, and was broken by supersonic wave to prepare submitochondria. Recombinant of succinic acid cytochrome c reductase was prepared with mitochondria of porcine heart. They were co-incubated with homocysteine and/or taurine with various concentration. The H₂O₂ and O₂^- were determined by chemiluminescence methods. The taurine transporter of heart mitochondria and its propert, and effects of homocysteine on its function were studied with glass filter. RESULTS: Homocysteine stimulated oxygen free radical production in heart mitochondria, submitochondria, and succinic acid cytochrome c in a concentration-dependent manner. Although taurine itself did not affect oxygen free radical production, taurine did inhibit oxygen free radical production in mitochondria, submitochondria and succinic acid cytochrome c in a concentration-dependent manner. Taurine transporters of Na⁺-dependent were existed in mitochondria membrane. Homocysteine inhibited taurine transtport in mitochondria in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Taurine inhibited electronic leakage and oxygen free radical production induced by homocysteine in electron transport chain. There were taurine transporters in mitochondria membrane, and transport functions of taurine transporter were inhibited by homocysteine.