Substance
ID:37
Names and Identifiers
IUPAC name
(2R)-2-amino-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid
IUPAC Traditional name
L-cysteine
Synonyms
2-Amino-3-mercaptopropionic acidL-CysteineL-CysL-(+)-Cysteineb-MercaptoalanineL-2-Amino-3-mercaptopropionic acid3-mercapto-L-AlanineCyscarbocysteineCysteinHalf-cystineThioserine(R)-Cysteine(R)-2-Amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid
Properties
Physical Property
Hydrophobicity(logP)
-2.6
Solubility
277 mg/mL at 25 oC [BEILSTEIN]
Molecule Details
Drug Groups
approved; nutraceutical
Description
A thiol-containing non-essential amino acid that is oxidized to form cystine. [PubChem]
Indication
For the prevention of liver damage and kidney damage associated with overdoses of acetaminophen
Pharmacology
Due to this ability to undergo redox reactions, cysteine has antioxidant properties. Cysteine is an important source of sulfur in human metabolism, and although it is classified as a non-essential amino acid, cysteine may be essential for infants, the elderly, and individuals with certain metabolic disease or who suffer from malabsorption syndromes. Cysteine may at some point be recognized as an essential or conditionally essential amino acid.
Affected Organisms
Humans and other mammals
References
•
Bulaj G, Kortemme T, Goldenberg DP: Ionization-reactivity relationships for cysteine thiols in polypeptides. Biochemistry. 1998 Jun 23;37(25):8965-72.
[Pubmed]
•
Baker DH, Czarnecki-Maulden GL: Pharmacologic role of cysteine in ameliorating or exacerbating mineral toxicities. J Nutr. 1987 Jun;117(6):1003-10.
[Pubmed]
External Links
Molecular Spectra
No Data Available
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References
• Bulaj G, Kortemme T, Goldenberg DP: Ionization-reactivity relationships for cysteine thiols in polypeptides. Biochemistry. 1998 Jun 23;37(25):8965-72. Pubmed
• Baker DH, Czarnecki-Maulden GL: Pharmacologic role of cysteine in ameliorating or exacerbating mineral toxicities. J Nutr. 1987 Jun;117(6):1003-10. Pubmed