Molecular docking and experimental validation of the effect of ergothioneine on heat shock protein-70 following endurance exercise by Arabian stallions.

The research investigates the effects of ergothioneine, a naturally occurring amino acid, on heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) in Arabian stallions during endurance exercise. It also explores whether ergothioneine plays a role in managing exercise-induced oxidative stress, concluding that it may be beneficial to horses engaged in endurance sports.

Research Design and Methodology

• The study was conducted on a total of 18 clinically healthy Arabian stallions aged on average 6.7 years and weighing around 412 kilograms.
• The stallions were divided into two groups: In the first group (ERGX), each horse was given 0.02 mg/kg of ergothioneine orally once a day for four weeks, whereas the second group (ERGN) did not receive ergothioneine.
• The research aimed to ascertain the effects of ergothioneine on heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) levels and oxidative stress markers before and after an endurance exercise of 30 kilometers.
• Data collected comprised levels of certain antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and markers of oxidative stress including malondialdehyde and HSP-70.
• Molecular docking, a method for predicting the preferred orientation of one molecule to a second when bound to each other, was implemented to explore the interaction between ergothioneine and HSP-70 using sulfogalactosylceramide and sulfogalactoglycerolipid as standards.

Results of the Study

• The ERGX group (given ergothioneine) demonstrated higher concentrations of antioxidant enzymes and HSP-70 compared to the ERGN group (without ergothioneine).
• Conversely, the ERGX group indicated a lower level of malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress, showing a possible advantageous impact of ergothioneine on reducing oxidative stress.
• The molecular docking analysis identified common amino acids at the interaction site between ergothioneine and HSP-70, suggesting that ergothioneine may modulate the synthesis of HSP-70.

Conclusions and Implications

• The findings suggest that ergothioneine can help moderate the synthesis of HSP-70, playing a key role in managing oxidative stress in horses following endurance exercise.
• Thus, it could be concluded that ergothioneine may provide physiological benefits to horses participating in endurance sports and could potentially be used as a supplement to improve their performance.