timeoutina

Timeoutina is a fictional small-molecule compound introduced in educational materials and speculative science fiction to illustrate concepts of signal timing and regulation in cellular systems. The name combines "timeout" with the common chemical suffix -ina, signaling a delayed or controlled response. It is not an extant drug or validated biological reagent in real-world research.

In the fictional literature, timeoutina is described as a synthetic organic molecule with a biphenyl core linked to a heteroaromatic moiety, designed to be moderately lipophilic and cell-permeable. Descriptions vary, but sources typically assign a molecular weight in the range of 350 to 420 daltons and note that the compound is stable under physiological conditions and amenable to standard laboratory handling in the narrative.

Mechanistically, timeoutina is posited to bind a hypothetical regulator called Timeout Receptor 1 (TR1) or to modulate kinases at signaling checkpoints, producing a reversible delay in downstream pathways in response to cellular stress. In simulations, application of timeoutina delays progression through checkpoints, enabling exploration of how timing affects outcomes such as differentiation or apoptosis.

In educational contexts, timeoutina is used in problem sets and classroom demonstrations to teach concepts of pharmacokinetics, dose–response, feedback control, and the importance of timing in biology. It also appears as a plot element in science fiction and media that explore cellular decision-making and timed interventions. See also other fictional time-themed molecules.