MSI_000012883

Lanthionine is a nonproteinogenic amino acid with the chemical formula (HOOC-CH(NH2)-CH2-S-CH2-CH(NH2)-COOH). It is typically formed by a cysteine residue and a dehydrated serine residue. Despite its name, lanthionine does not contain the element lanthanum. Lanthionine belongs to the class of organic compounds known as L-cysteine-S-conjugates. These are compounds containing L-cysteine where the thio-group is conjugated. Lanthionine is a uremic toxin (PMID: 30087103). In 1941, lanthionine was first isolated by treating wool with sodium carbonate. It was found to be a sulfur-containing amino acid; accordingly it was given the name lanthionine [wool (Latin: Lana), sulfur (Greek: theîon)].[1] Lanthionine was first synthesized by alkylation of cysteine with β-chloroalanine.[2] Lanthionines are found widely in nature. They have been isolated from human hair, lactalbumin, and feathers. Lanthionines have also been found in bacterial cell walls and are the components of a group of gene-encoded peptide antibiotics called lantibiotics, which includes nisin (a food preservative), subtilin, epidermin (effective against Staphylococcus and Streptococcus), and ancovenin (an enzyme inhibitor).[3][4] L-Lanthionine. CAS Common Chemistry. CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, n.d. https://commonchemistry.cas.org/detail?cas_rn=922-55-4 (retrieved 2024-06-29) (CAS RN: 922-55-4). Licensed under the Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).