trimethylamine
try-meth-il-AM-in
Definition
A chemical compound that, in its derivative form (trimethylamine N-oxide, or TMAO), helps stabilize cellular structures and water networks in deep-sea organisms against extreme pressure.
Etymology
The name is derived from 'tri-' (three) plus 'methyl' (a chemical radical based on methane) and 'amine' (a derivative of ammonia). It describes a structure featuring three methyl groups attached to a central nitrogen atom.
In the news
The article discusses how TMAO, a derivative of trimethylamine, acts as an 'osmolyte' to help snailfish maintain the integrity of their cells and surrounding water molecules under the crushing weight of the deep ocean.
We assume the deepest parts of the ocean are dark and empty, but the walls of the Mariana Trench hold snailfish drifting five miles down under pressure equivalent to a car pressing on every square centimetre of skin, their bones half-dissolved into cartilage so
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com