Ectoine

Ergothioneine (EGT) is a sulfur-containing histidine derivative (figure 1). To date, ergothioneine biosynthesis is documented in several non‐yeast fungal species including Neurospora crassa and other filamentous fungi. The precise role of ergothioneine is not yet known but there is growing evidence that it plays a role as an antioxidant protecting human cells from oxidative stress and pathogenic bacteria from host defenses.

Fig. 1 Structure of ectoine

Biosynthesis of Ectoine

Ectoine was discovered in the halophilic γ-proteobacterium Halorhodospira halochloris, while it is now known to be synthesized by a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Ectoine is synthesized from L-aspartate 4-semialdehyde, the central intermediate in the synthesis of amino acids belonging to the aspartate family. The biosynthetic pathway is showed as below.

Fig. 2 The ectoine biosynthetic pathway

Applications

Several biophysical studies show that ectoine binds water molecules even better than some other osmoprotectants such as glycerol and that it is well tolerated by humans, animals, and various cell cultures. In fact, ectoine retains strong hydration properties even at high NaCl concentrations. It can be used in the following industries^[1]:

• Skin protection

Ectoine is an effective long-term moisturizer that prevents dehydration of the epidermis. It also alleviates skin inflammation and is currently recommended for the treatment of moderate atopic dermatitis. In addition, ectoine strongly absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation and protects DNA from breaking down in various cell types.

• Stabilizing enzyme activity

Ectoine increases the stability of enzymes maintaining hydration and thereby reducing protein susceptibility to denaturation. Ectoine reduces denaturation of enzymes induced by a rapid change of temperature. It also increases the stability of phytase, ribonuclease-A, and polymerase of the double stranded DNA at elevated temperature. In addition, ectoine can protect macromolecules against proteolytic agents.

• Cell protection

Various environmental stressors such as heat or toxic chemicals may impair the cell membrane function and result in cell dehydration and denaturation. Ectoine increases cell membrane fluidity to cope with extreme conditions such as high temperature or osmotic pressure.

• Alleviation of inflammatory reaction

Ectoine effectively alleviates inflammation, such as the experimentally induced colitis in rats or nanoparticle-induced neutrophilic lung inflammation. It can also mitigate inflammatory reactions in the lung epithelial cells after inhalation of carbonaceous nanoparticles in mice. However, this effect was not observed when lung inflammation was induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

• Others

Except for the applications above, ectoine can be used in the protection against neurodegenerative diseases, protection of invertebrates against environmental stressors.

Our Ectoine

Our biosynthetic Ectoine is obtained through fermentation. Basic properties are as followings:

Alfa Chemistry is a professional supplier of ectoine. For high quality products, professional technical service, use suggestion and latest industry news, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Bownik, A., & Stępniewska, Z. Ectoine as a promising protective agent in humans and animals. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 2016, 67(4), 260-265.

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