Detection of taurine in biological tissues by (33)S NMR spectroscopy

The potential of (33)S NMR spectroscopy for biochemical investigations on taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is explored. It is demonstrated that (33)S NMR spectroscopy allows the selective and unequivocal identification of taurine in biological samples. (33)S NMR spectra of homogenated and intact tissues are reported for the first time, together with the spectrum of a living mollusc. Emphasis is placed on the importance of choosing appropriate signal processing methods to improve the quality of the (33)S NMR spectra of biological tissues.