2782. Cystine

Nomenclature

CAS number: 56-89-3
l-Cystine; [R-(R*,R*)]-3,3′-dithiobis[2-aminopropanoic acid]; dicysteine; β,β′-dithiodialanine; α-diamino-β-dithiolactic acid; β,β′-diamino-β,β′-dicarboxydiethyl disulfide; bis(β-amino-β-carboxyethyl) disulfide; Gelucystine (Parke-Davis).
C6H12N2O4S2; mol wt 240.30.
C 29.99%, H 5.03%, N 11.66%, O 26.63%, S 26.69%.

Description and references

Non-essential amino acid for human development. Formed by the dimerization of two cysteines, q.v. through the sulfur. These disulfide bridges occur both within and between polypeptides; often found in extracellular proteins. First amino acid described in 1810 by Wollaston. Isoln from horn hydrolysate: K. A. H. M"orner, Z. Physiol. Chem. 28, 595 (1899). Early chemistry and biochemistry: Amino Acids and Proteins, D. M. Greenberg, Ed. (Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL, 1951) 950 pp. passim; J. P. Greenstein, M. Winitz, Chemistry of the Amino Acids vols 1-3 (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1961) pp. 1879-1928, passim. Distribution in protein: R. C. Fahey et al., J. Mol. Evol. 10, 155 (1977). Review of lysosomal transport including pathophysiology: W. Gahl in Pathophysiol. Lysosomal Transp., J. G. Thoene, Ed. (CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1992) pp 45-71. Review of thermodynamics and kinetics: T. R. Ralph et al., J. Electroanal. Chem. 375, 1-15 (1994); of electrosynthesis: eidem, ibid. 17-27.

Chemical structure

Properties

Hexagonal tablets from water, dec 260-261° (sealed tube). [α]D20 -223.4° (1.0N HCl). pK1 1; pK2 2.1; pK3 8.02; pK4 8.71 at 35°. Soly in water (g/l) at 25°: 0.112; at 50°: 0.239; at 75°: 0.523; at 100°: 1.142. Quite sol in aq solns below pH 2 or above pH 8. Soly curves: Sano, Biochem. Z. 168, 14 (1926). Insol in alc. Absorption spectrum: Marchlewski, Nowotonowna, Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. [4] 39, 163, 166 (1926).

Derivative

d-Form.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 349-46-2

Properties

Crystals. [α]D20 +223° (1.0N HCl). Soly in water at 25°: 0.057 g/l.

Derivative

dl-Form.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 923-32-0

Properties

Crystals. Soly in water at 25°: 0.057 g/l.

Derivative

meso-Form.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 6020-39-9

Properties

Crystals. Soly in water: 0.056 g/l.