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Effects of taurine on the phosphorylation of specific proteins in subcellular fractions of the rat retina

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Abstract

The effects of 20 mM taurine on the phosphorylation of specific proteins in mitochondrial and rod outer segment subcellular fractions of the rat retina were measured. A band of protein with an apparent molecular wieght of ∼ 20K was consistently inhibited by taurine. Densitometry measurements performed on gel electrophoresis autoradiograms from the mitochondrial fraction demonstrated a 42.7±8.3% decrease due to taurine (20 mM) in the area corresponding to radioactivity from the ∼ 20K phosphoprotein. However, only a 21.2±9.0% decrease was observed due to taurine in the rod outer segment preparation. These data suggest that taurine is exerting its primary effect on the phosphorylation of the ∼ 20K molecular weight protein in the mitochondria of the retina. In addition, calmodulin and phorbol ester had no effect on the phosphorylation of the ∼ 20K molecular weight protein.

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Lombardini, J.B. Effects of taurine on the phosphorylation of specific proteins in subcellular fractions of the rat retina. Neurochem Res 17, 821–824 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00969019

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