Бетаин

Описание

Betaine, also called betaine anhydrous, trimethylglycine (TMG) is a methyl group donor and involved in liver function, cellular reproduction, and helping make carnitine. It is an amino-acid betaine and a glycine derivative, with a role in regulating cellular hydration and maintaining cell function.

Использование

betaine is a surfactant, humectant, and excellent skin conditioner. It is also used to build product viscosity and as a foam booster. It is found mostly in skin cleansers, shampoos, and bath products.

Определение

ChEBI: The amino acid betaine derived from glycine.

Общее описание

Betaine also called trimethylglycine or N,N,N triethylammonium acetate, is an analog of glycine with three methyl groups. It is highly compatible with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) buffer mixture. Betaine is a PCR enhancing reagent that is widely used for improving the yield and specificity of PCR products, especially during the PCR amplification of targets rich in GC content or those that form secondary structures resulting in poor yield. Betaine facilitates DNA strand separation and manages the DNA melting temperature (Tm) difference between the GC and AT pairs in DNA. It stabilizes the ds DNA by equalizing the contribution of GC- and AT-base pairs. Betaine has been broadly used to optimize multiplex and ‘long and accurate′ polymerase chain reaction (LA-PCR). The addition of 1.0-1.7 M aqueous betaine to a PCR mixture has been reported to reduce the base pair composition dependence on DNA strand melting.

Методы очистки

Crystallise betaine from aqueous EtOH or EtOH/Et2O. The monohydrate loses H2O above 100o. Betaine undergoes internal alkylation to methyl dimethylaminoacetate Purification of Biochemicals — Amino Acids and Peptides above its melting point. It is also prepared by treating the hydrochloride (below) with silver oxide and recrystallising from EtOH/Et2O. [Edsall J Am Chem Soc 66 1767 1943, Leifer & Lippincott J Am Chem Soc 79 5098 1957, for pK see Grob et al. Chem and Ind (London) 1222 1955, Beilstein 4 III 1127, 4 IV 2369.]