Cysteine Non Essential Amino Acid - Cysteine Polar Amino Acids (hydrophilic)

Cysteine is one of two sulfur-containing amino acids; the other is methionine. Cysteine is a naturally occurring hydrophobic amino acid which has a thiol group and is found in most proteins, though only in small quantities. Hair and skin are made up 10-14% Cystine.

Cysteine contains a highly nucleophilic thiol group, and one of its primary purposes is to act as a nucleophilic catalyst. It can react with itself to form an oxidized dimer by formation of a disulfide bond.

Cysteine Benefits and Uses

• Cysteine functions as an antioxidant and is a powerful aid to the body in protecting against radiation and pollution.
• Cysteines play a valuable role by crosslinking proteins in an intramolecular sense.
• It can help slow down the aging process, deactivate free radicals, neutralize toxins
• cysteine aids in protein synthesis and presents cellular change.
• It is necessary for the formation of the skin, which aids in the recovery from burns and surgical operations.

Cysteine Food Sources

Cysteine can be found in red peppers, garlic, onions, broccoli, brussel sprouts, oats, and wheat germ. However, it is not an essential amino acid, and can be synthesized by the human body if a sufficient quantity of methione is available.

Structure of Cysteine Amino Acid

Since the pKa of the cysteine thiol approximately 8, its chemical activity is very easily tuned by its environment. The environment within a cell is too strongly reducing for disulfides to form, but in the extracellular environment, disulfides can form and play a key role in stabilizing many such proteins, such as the digestive enzymes of the small intestine.

Cysteine (mostly in the naturally occurring form L-cysteine) is used for applications in the food, pharmaceutical and personal care industries.