Isabelle Rohn1, Nina Kroepfl2, Michael Aschner3, Julia Bornhorst4, Doris Kuehnelt5, Tanja Schwerdtle6. 1. Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany. Electronic address: isabelle.rohn@uni-potsdam.de. 2. Institute of Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Universitaetsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria. Electronic address: nina.kroepfl@uni-graz.at. 3. Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Neuroscience, and Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, 10461 Bronx, NY, USA. Electronic address: michael.aschner@einstein.yu.edu. 4. Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany; TraceAge - DFG Research Unit FOR 2558, Berlin-Potsdam-Jena, Germany; Food Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: julia.bornhorst@uni-potsdam.de. 5. Institute of Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Universitaetsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria. Electronic address: doris.kuehnelt@uni-graz.at. 6. Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany; TraceAge - DFG Research Unit FOR 2558, Berlin-Potsdam-Jena, Germany. Electronic address: tanja.schwerdtle@uni-potsdam.de.
Abstract
SCOPE: Selenoneine (2-selenyl-Nα, Nα, Nα-trimethyl-L-histidine), the selenium (Se) analogue of the ubiquitous thiol compound and putative antioxidant ergothioneine, is the major organic selenium species in several marine fish species. Although its antioxidant efficacy has been proposed, selenoneine has been poorly characterized, preventing conclusions on its possible beneficial health effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatment of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) with selenoneine for 18 h attenuated the induction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). However, the effect was not immediate, occurring 48 h post-treatment. Total Se and Se speciation analysis revealed that selenoneine was efficiently taken up and present in its original form directly after treatment, with no metabolic transformations observed. 48 h post-treatment, total Se in worms was slightly higher compared to controls and no selenoneine could be detected. CONCLUSION: The protective effect of selenoneine may not be attributed to the presence of the compound itself, but rather to the activation of molecular mechanisms with consequences at more protracted time points.
SCOPE: Selenoneine (2-selenyl-Nα, Nα, Nα-trimethyl-L-histidine), the selenium (Se) analogue of the ubiquitous thiol compound and putative antioxidant ergothioneine, is the major organic selenium species in several marine fish species. Although its antioxidant efficacy has been proposed, selenoneine has been poorly characterized, preventing conclusions on its possible beneficial health effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatment of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) with selenoneine for 18 h attenuated the induction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). However, the effect was not immediate, occurring 48 h post-treatment. Total Se and Se speciation analysis revealed that selenoneine was efficiently taken up and present in its original form directly after treatment, with no metabolic transformations observed. 48 h post-treatment, total Se in worms was slightly higher compared to controls and no selenoneine could be detected. CONCLUSION: The protective effect of selenoneine may not be attributed to the presence of the compound itself, but rather to the activation of molecular mechanisms with consequences at more protracted time points.