Ergothioneine / selenoneine study group was established

Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo, hereinafter "Euglena") is a "place for accumulating and utilizing" knowledge "" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. * 1 The Ergothioneine / Selenoneine Study Group was established based on the framework of the health and longevity food research and development platform in Japan.
　Ergothioneine and selenoneine have antioxidant effects * 2 This study group focuses on ergothioneine and selenoneine, which are promising next-generation functional materials, and provides a place for various research presentations from the basics to applications, and provides useful functions and functions. We will promptly disseminate information on utilization as a material.
* 1 A place for accumulating and utilizing "knowledge" ... "Introducing ideas and technologies from different fields into the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries and food, producing innovative research results, and creating new ones" by the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Aiming for industry-academia-government collaboration and open innovation that leads to commercialization and commercialization "
* 2 Antioxidant action: A function that attenuates or eliminates harmful reactions caused by active oxygen in which a part of oxygen is changed. It is said that when active oxygen with high oxidative power acts excessively in the body to damage genes and proteins and accumulate oxidative stress, it accelerates aging and increases the risk of diseases.

　Ergothioneine was discovered in 1909, and its chemical structure was determined two years later, but details such as the genes responsible for its biosynthesis were revealed in 2010, about 100 years after its discovery. I am. Selenoneine, which has a structure similar to ergothioneine, was discovered in 2010 by Professor Tomoaki Yamashita of the Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Fisheries Research and Education Agency, and was published in the journal of the American Society of Biochemistry. Euglena started a joint research "Self-medicine promotion special research project" * 3 with the National University Corporation Tsukuba University (hereinafter "University of Tsukuba") on July 1, 2018, and conducted research on the industrial use of ergothioneine and selenoneine. We are making full-scale progress.
Euglena Co., Ltd. and the University of Tsukuba aiming at research and development of new sulfur compound measurement and analysis technology and practical application of this technology to self-medication-related businesses https://www.euglena.jp/news/180629 -2 / 2

　In recent years, research aimed at elucidating the physiological functions of ergothioneine and selenoneine in animals including humans has been expanded worldwide, and many papers showing the effect of improving functions on depression and dementia have been reported. For these reasons, ergothioneine and selenoneine are expected to be used as cosmetics, medicines, and health foods that enrich our lives. In Japan, various studies on ergothioneine and selenoneine have won awards at multiple academic societies, and the importance of these compounds in both science and engineering is beginning to be recognized.
　From such a historical, social, and technical background, domestic industry-academia-government R & D related to ergothioneine and selenoneine gather together, gather wisdom, promote internationally competitive research, and consume at the same time. We have decided to establish this study group in order to disseminate awareness and understanding to people. The first research meeting is scheduled to be held on October 8, 2020 (Thursday).

■ "1st Ergothioneine / Selenoneine Study Group"
Date and time: Thursday, October 8, 2020 13: 00-17: 15
Participation fee: Free
Holding format: Online holding on the Internet service "zoom"
[Main event] Euglena
[Co-sponsored] Healthy Longevity Food Research and Development Platform (Ken-12)
[Support] Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries A place to accumulate and utilize "knowledge"
[How to apply] Please apply from the Peatix page below.
https://erg-sln-2020.peatix.com/

＜About euglena Co., Ltd.＞
In 2005, euglena succeeded in establishing the world’s first outdoor mass cultivation technology for Euglena microalgae for food use. In addition to developing and selling products that include functional foods and cosmetics that utilize Euglena and Chlorella microalgae, euglena conducts research in producing biofuel. euglena has also been expanding eligible products for the “euglena GENKI Program” to all Group products including cosmetics since April 2019. This program has been running since 2014 and delivers nutrient-rich Euglena cookies to children in Bangladesh. The company was also listed on the Mothers Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2012 and subsequently updated to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2014. euglena has been developing its business based on the euglena philosophy of “Sustainability First.” https://euglena.jp

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Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division