Ergothioneine and its congeners: Anti-ageing mechanisms and pharmacophore biosynthesis

Li Chen, Liping Zhang, Xujun Ye, Zixin Deng, Changming Zhao

Protein & Cell, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/procel/pwad048

Abstract

Ergothioneine, Ovothiol and Selenoneine are sulfur/selenium-containing histidine-derived natural products widely distributed across different organisms. They exhibit significant antioxidant properties, making them as potential lead compounds for promoting health. Increasing evidence suggests that Ergothioneine is positively correlated with healthy ageing and longevity. The mechanisms underlying Ergothioneine regulation of the ageing process at cellular and molecular level are beginning to be understood. In this review, we provide an in-depth and extensive coverage of the anti-ageing studies on Ergothioneine and discuss its possible intracellular targeting pathways. In addition, we highlight the recent efforts in elucidating the biosynthetic details for Ergothioneine, Ovothiol and Selenoneine, with a particular focus on the study of their pharmacophore-forming enzymology.