BETAÏNE

Abetaine(/ˈbiːtə.iːn,bɪˈteɪ-,-ɪn/) is any neutralchemical compoundwith a positively chargedcationicfunctional groupthat bears no hydrogen atom, such as aquaternary ammoniumorphosphoniumcation (generally:oniumions), and with a negatively charged functional group, such as acarboxylategroup that may not be adjacent to the cationic site.Historically, the term was reserved fortrimethylglycine(TMG), which is involved inmethylationreactions and detoxification ofhomocysteine.This is a modified amino acid consisting ofglycinewith threemethyl groupsserving as methyl donor for various metabolic pathways.