Betaine (trimethylglycine) 是许多食物中发现的天然化合物,也是能够维持正常 DNA 甲基化模式的特性甲基供体。它广泛存在于植物,动物,微生物和丰富的膳食来源中。它能够促进各种肠道微生物抵抗渗透变化,从而改善微生物发酵特性。它也能够作为渗透物,通过防止脱水和渗透失活来维持禽类的细胞水和离子平衡,从而提高禽类对热应激的能力。
Betaine aldehyde is the physiological intermediate in the oxidation of choline to betaine. This step is involved in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism.
Arsenobetaine, an organoarsenical and compatible solute, is discovered in numerous marine animals like lobsters and crabs, and terrestrial organisms such as earthworms and lichens. It protects against B. subtilis cell death caused by high osmolarity or extreme temperatures at 1 mM concentration. Notably, arsenobetaine exhibits non-toxicity to mice with an LD50 of 10 g/kg.