Oxidation of hypotaurine to taurine by ultraviolet irradiation.

Oxidation of hypotaurine to taurine is known to occur in vivo. Search for an enzyme performing that oxidation has been unsuccessful. However, fast and quantitative oxidation of hypotaurine (and other sulfinates) by ultraviolet irradiation has now been observed. The reaction is first order and pH-dependent, and its rate depends strongly on the kind of sulfinate irradiated. Only the corresponding sulfonate is recovered as the product under the relatively mild conditions used. Catalase or superoxide dismutase does not affect the oxidation, which is oxygen-dependent. A simple reaction scheme is proposed to account for the findings.