The target of ETH2120 is related to sodium ion transport, functioning as a sodium ionophore that disrupts transmembrane sodium ion gradients. [1]
- ETH2120 acts as a sodium ionophore, targeting sodium ion gradients across biological membranes to interfere with sodium-dependent processes. [2]

In addition to stimulating caffeate reduction, preincubation of the cells with sodium ionophore III (Na+) entirely eliminated ATP production. When cells in a constant state of caffeate reduction were exposed to sodium ionophore III, the intracellular ATP level was rapidly depleted[1]. Cells cultured in lactate sulfate are resistant to the Na+ ionophore ETH2120[2]. One possible extraction agent for nuclear seizure treatment is sodium ionophore III ligand, which is a particularly efficient receptor for the Eu3+ and Am3+ cations[3].

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In cell suspensions of Acetobacterium woodii grown on fructose plus caffeate, ETH2120 (final concentration 27 μM) stimulated hydrogen-dependent caffeate reduction by 280%, while protonophores (e.g., SF6847 at 27 μM) had no such stimulatory effect. This indicated that ETH2120 disrupts the transmembrane sodium ion gradient generated by primary sodium extrusion, thereby relieving the feedback inhibition of caffeate reduction caused by the sodium gradient. Additionally, ETH2120 (20 μM) abolished ATP synthesis coupled to hydrogen-dependent caffeate reduction in the presence of 10 mM Na⁺, whereas protonophores (20 μM SF6847) and TCS (20 μM) had no inhibitory effect on ATP synthesis. When the ATPase inhibitor DCCD (100 μM) inhibited hydrogen-dependent caffeate reduction, the addition of ETH2120 (final concentration 36 μM) relieved this inhibition, further confirming that ETH2120 acts by disrupting the sodium ion gradient [1]
- In in vitro experiments with Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20 and its Rnf mutants (rnfA and rnfD), ETH2120 had no effect on lactate-sulfate dependent growth of the parental strain, while the protonophore TCS strongly inhibited this growth. This suggested that ETH2120 does not interfere with proton gradient-dependent processes in this bacterium, consistent with its role as a specific sodium ionophore [2]

For the hydrogen-dependent caffeate reduction assay in Acetobacterium woodii cell suspensions: Cell suspensions (1.25 mg of protein/ml) were prepared from cultures grown on fructose plus caffeate and incubated under a hydrogen atmosphere at 30°C in a shaking water bath with buffer containing the appropriate concentration of NaCl. After preincubation, caffeate was added from a stock solution. At the indicated time, ETH2120 (final concentration 27 μM) or protonophore SF6847 (final concentration 27 μM) was added to the cell suspensions, with a control group receiving only solvent. Samples were withdrawn at different time points to analyze caffeate concentration and determine the rate of caffeate reduction.
For the ATP synthesis assay coupled to hydrogen-dependent caffeate reduction: Cell suspensions (1.54 mg of protein/ml) were preincubated under a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of 10 mM Na⁺ and 20 μM ETH2120, 20 μM SF6847, or 20 μM TCS, with a control group receiving only solvent. Caffeate was added to a final concentration of 10 mM at the indicated time, and samples were withdrawn at different time points to measure cellular ATP content.
For the assay of relieving DCCD inhibition: Cell suspensions (1.54 mg of protein/ml) were preincubated under a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of 3 mM Na⁺ and 100 μM DCCD for 30 min (a control group had no DCCD). Caffeate was added to a final concentration of 10 mM at time zero. At the indicated time, ETH2120 was added to one of the DCCD-treated groups to a final concentration of 36 μM. Samples were withdrawn at different time points to analyze caffeate concentration and evaluate the effect of ETH2120 on relieving DCCD inhibition [1]
- For the growth inhibition assay of Desulfovibrio alaskensis: The parental strain of Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20 and its rnfA, rnfD mutants were cultured in media with different electron donor-acceptor combinations (e.g., lactate-sulfate, lactate-sulfite). ETH2120 was added to the culture media at appropriate concentrations, and the growth curves of the strains were monitored by measuring optical density or other growth indicators over time. The effect of ETH2120 on bacterial growth was compared with that of the protonophore TCS, which was added at concentrations of 5 μM and 20 μM [2]

[1]. Chemiosmotic energy conservation with Na(+) as the coupling ion during hydrogen-dependent caffeate reduction by Acetobacterium woodii. J Bacteriol. 2002 Apr;184(7):1947-51.

[2]. The role of Rnf in ion gradient formation in Desulfovibrio alaskensis. PeerJ. 2016 Apr 14;4:e1919.

[3]. Sodium Ionophore III as Very Effective Receptor for Trivalent Europium and Americium.J Solution Chem (2016) 45: 463.

ETH2120 is a specific sodium ion carrier that selectively disrupts the transmembrane sodium ion gradient without affecting the proton gradient. In the chemiosmotic energy conservation system of Acetobacterium woodii during hydrogen-dependent caffeic acid reduction, the transmembrane sodium ion gradient is crucial for the regulation of ATP synthesis and caffeic acid reduction. ETH2120 interferes with these processes by dissipating the sodium ion gradient, which helps to confirm that sodium ions are the coupling ion in this energy conservation mechanism [1]. As a sodium ion carrier, ETH2120 specifically targets the sodium ion gradient. In Desulfovibrio alaskensis, the Rnf complex acts as the main proton pump, and the bacteria rely on the proton gradient for energy conservation during lactate-sulfate dependent growth. ETH2120 has no effect on this growth, further confirming its specificity for sodium ions and its non-interference with proton-dependent energy metabolism, which is crucial for distinguishing the roles of sodium ions and the proton gradient in bacterial energy conservation [2].

C34H52N2O4

552.80

552.393

81686-22-8

613672

White to off-white solid powder

1.12g/cm3

709.4ºC at 760 mmHg

382.8ºC

1.564

7.432

0

4

10

40

666

0

GKRBLFCTFPAHMH-UHFFFAOYSA-N

InChI=1S/C34H52N2O4/c37-33(35(27-15-5-1-6-16-27)28-17-7-2-8-18-28)25-39-31-23-13-14-24-32(31)40-26-34(38)36(29-19-9-3-10-20-29)30-21-11-4-12-22-30/h13-14,23-24,27-30H,1-12,15-22,25-26H2

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

Solubility in Formulation 1: 2 mg/mL (3.62 mM) in Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), suspension solution; with sonication.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)