A simple assay of taurine concentrations in food and biological samples using taurine dioxygenase

Abstract

Taurine demonstrates various physiological functions and pharmacological actions. A successful application of taurine dioxygenase (EC 1.14.11.17) for taurine determination is described. The gene encoding taurine dioxygenase was cloned from Escherichia coli strain K-12, and the enzyme was used to determine taurine in commercially available beverages and some biological samples. The measured values obtained using the current method are close to the declared values with the precolumn derivatization ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) procedure. Taurine dioxygenase can be used for taurine determination in food control, biological research, and diagnoses based on urinary taurine concentration.