There is an organic acid known as Taurine, which is a derivative product of sulfhydryl amino acid (which contains sulfur), as well as cysteine. The synthesis or metabolism in mammalian systems of this acid transpires within the pancreas in such a fashion that it utilizes a pathway known as the cysteine sulfinic acid pathway. To put this process in context, its occurrence is often seen in vivo, in hepatocytes, and is fundamental in the cyclical process of recovering bile acids from the intenstine, turning them back into salts and returning them to the bile. In essence the cysteine pathway induces a sulfhydryl group to be oxidized, creating cysteine sulfinic acid, by utilizing the appropriate enzymes (ie cysteine dioxygenase). This new acid undergoes decarboxylation creating a new compound: hypotaurine. This process goes on as Taurine now is subjected to conjugation vis a vis its amino terminal group. This includes acids such as chenodeoxycholic acid and cholic acid, and in turn the formation of bile salts occurs. Moreover, this entire process can be catalyzed via bile acid and a special amino acid N-acetyltransferase.

Taurine and Hypotaurine Metabolism References