Overview
| Generic Names: | (R)-2-Amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid; (R)-Cysteine; 2-Amino-3-mercaptopropionic acid; 3-mercapto-L-Alanine; Cys; Cystein; Half-cystine; L-(+)-Cysteine; L-2-Amino-3-mercaptopropionic acid; L-Cys; Thioserine; b-Mercaptoalanine; carbocysteine |
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| Brand Mixtures: | Amino Acid Concentrate Inj (Arginine Hcl + Calcium Chloride + Dexpanthenol + Dextrose + Dl-Methionine + Glutamic Acid + Histidine Hcl + Isoleucine + L-Cysteine Hydrochloride + L-Lysine Hydrochloride + Leucine + Magnesium Sulfate + Nicotinamide + Phenylalanine + Potassium Chloride + Sodium Acetate + Threonine + Tryptophan + Valine + Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) + Vitamin B12 + Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) + Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)); Amino Acid Inj (Arginine + Calcium Chloride + D-Pantothenic Acid (Calcium D-Pantothenate) + Dextrose + Histidine + Isoleucine + L-Cysteine Hydrochloride + Leucine + Lysine + Magnesium Sulfate + Methionine + Nicotinamide + Phenylalanine + Potassium Chloride + Pyridoxine Hydrochloride + Sodium Acetate + Threonine + Tryptophan + Valine + Vitamin B1 + Vitamin B12 + Vitamin B2); Amino Lite (Arginine + Calcium Chloride + Dextrose + Isoleucine + L-Cysteine Hydrochloride + L-Histidine Hcl + L-Lysine Hydrochloride + Leucine + Magnesium Sulfate + Methionine + Nicotinic Acid + Phenylalanine + Potassium Chloride + Pyridoxine Hydrochloride + Sodium Glutamate + Thiamine Hydrochloride + Threonine + Tryptophan + Valine + Vitamin B12 + Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin 5'-Phosphate Sodium)); Aminoderm Poudre (Glycine + L-Cysteine + Neomycin Sulfate + Threonine); Bvs Amino Acid Solution Inj (Arginine Hcl + Calcium Chloride + Dexpanthenol + Dextrose + Dl-Isoleucine + L-Cysteine Hydrochloride + L-Histidine Hcl + L-Lysine Hydrochloride + Leucine + Magnesium Sulfate + Methionine + Nicotinamide + Phenylalanine + Potassium Chloride + Pyridoxine Hydrochloride + Sodium Acetate Hemodialysis + Sodium Glutamate + Threonine + Tryptophan + Valine + Vitamin B1 + Vitamin B12 + Vitamin B2); Cicatrin Powder (Bacitracin Zinc + Glycine + L-Cysteine + Neomycin Sulfate + Threonine); Nephramine Liq Iv (Dl-Methionine + Histidine + Isoleucine + L-Cysteine (L-Cysteine Hydrochloride) + Leucine + Lysine (Lysine Acetate) + Phenylalanine + Sodium Bisulfite + Threonine + Tryptophan + Valine); Primene 10% (Glutamic Acid + Glycine + Histidine + L-Alanine + L-Arginine + L-Aspartic Acid + L-Cysteine + L-Isoleucine + L-Leucine + L-Lysine + L-Ornithine Dihydrochloride + L-Phenylalanine + L-Proline + L-Threonine + L-Tyrosine + L-Valine + Methionine + Serine + Taurine + Tryptophan); Primene 10%-Liq Iv (Glutamic Acid + Glycine + Histidine + L-Alanine + L-Arginine + L-Aspartic Acid + L-Cysteine Hydrochloride + L-Isoleucine + L-Leucine + L-Lysine + L-Ornithine + L-Phenylalanine + L-Proline + L-Threonine + L-Tyrosine + L-Valine + Methionine + Serine + Taurine + Tryptophan); Stv Amino Acid Sol Inj (Arginine Hcl + Calcium Chloride + Dexpanthenol + Dextrose + Dl-Methionine + Glutamic Acid + Histidine Hcl + Isoleucine + L-Cysteine Hydrochloride + L-Lysine Hydrochloride + Leucine + Magnesium Sulfate + Nicotinamide + Phenylalanine + Potassium Chloride + Pyridoxine Hydrochloride + Sodium Acetate + Threonine + Tryptophan + Valine + Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) + Vitamin B12 + Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)); Vamin 18 Electrolyte-Free (Glutamic Acid + Glycine + Histidine + L-Alanine + L-Arginine + L-Aspartic Acid + L-Cysteine + L-Isoleucine + L-Leucine + L-Lysine (Lysine Acetate) + L-Phenylalanine + L-Proline + L-Threonine + L-Tyrosine + L-Valine + Methionine + Serine + Tryptophan); Vamin N (Calcium Chloride + Glutamic Acid + Glycine + Histidine + L-Alanine + L-Arginine + L-Aspartic Acid + L-Cysteine (L-Cysteine Hydrochloride) + L-Isoleucine + L-Leucine + L-Lysine (L-Lysine Hydrochloride) + L-Phenylalanine + L-Proline + L-Threonine + L-Tyrosine + L-Valine + Magnesium Sulfate + Methionine + Potassium Chloride + Potassium Hydroxide + Serine + Sodium Hydroxide + Tryptophan) |
| PharmGKB Accession Id: | PA449173 |
Description
A thiol-containing non-essential amino acid that is oxidized to form cystine. PubChem (source: Drug Bank)
Indication
For the prevention of liver damage and kidney damage associated with overdoses of acetaminophen (source: Drug Bank)
ATC Therapeutic Categories
- R05CB:Mucolytics
- S01XA:Other ophthalmologicals
- V03AB:Antidotes
Pharmacology, Interactions, and Contraindications
Mechanism Of Action
Although 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 can usually be synthesized by the human body under normal physiological conditions if a sufficient quantity of methionine is available. Due to the ability of thiols to undergo redox reactions, cysteine has antioxidant properties. Cysteine's antioxidant properties are typically expressed in the tripeptide glutathione, which occurs in humans as well as other organisms. The systemic availability of oral glutathione (GSH) is negligible; so it must be biosynthesized from its constituent amino acids, cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. Glutamic acid and glycine are readily available in the diets of most industrialized countries, but the availability of cysteine can be the limiting substrate. Cysteine is also an important source of sulfide in human metabolism. The sulfide in iron-sulfur clusters and in nitrogenase is extracted from cysteine, which is converted to alanine in the process. In a 1994 report released by five top cigarette companies, cysteine is one of the 599 additives to cigarettes. Its use or purpose, however, is unknown, like most cigarette additives. Its inclusion in cigarettes could offer two benefits: Acting as an expectorant, since smoking increases mucus production in the lungs; and increasing the beneficial antioxidant glutathione (which is diminished in smokers). (source: Drug Bank)
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. (source: Drug Bank)
Isomeric SMILES Code:
C([C@@H](C(=O)O)N)S (source: Drug Bank)
A list of non-curated publications that mention this drug along with other genes is available.
Drug Targets
| Gene | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| NFS1 |
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| MGMT |
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| CTH |
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| CBS |
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| CDO1 |
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(source: Drug Bank) |
| CSAD |
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| CARS |
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(source: Drug Bank) |
| CARS2 |
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(source: Drug Bank) |
| GCLC |
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(source: Drug Bank) |
| GCLM |
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(source: Drug Bank) |
| GOT1 |
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(source: Drug Bank) |
| GSS |
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(source: Drug Bank) |
| SLC19A3 |
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(source: Drug Bank) |
Reactome Pathways†
- Amino acid transport across the plasma membrane - (Reactome via Pathway Interaction Database)
- Amino acid uptake across the plasma membrane - (Reactome via Pathway Interaction Database)
- Coenzyme A biosynthesis - (Reactome via Pathway Interaction Database)
- Cytosolic tRNA aminoacylation - (Reactome via Pathway Interaction Database)
- Glutathione synthesis - (Reactome via Pathway Interaction Database)
- Mitochondrial tRNA aminoacylation - (Reactome via Pathway Interaction Database)
A list of non-curated publications that mention this drug along with other drugs is available.
Non-Curated Information
A list of non-curated publications that mention this drug along with other diseases is available.
LinkOuts
Common Searches
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Non-Curated Publications
A list of non-curated publications that mention this drug is available.