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.
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IUPAC name
S-[(2R)-2-Amino-2-carboxyethyl]-L-cysteine
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3D model (JSmol)
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ChEBI |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.011.888 |
PubChem CID
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Properties | |
C6H12N2O4S | |
Molar mass | 208.2318 g/mol |
Melting point | 280 to 283 °C (536 to 541 °F; 553 to 556 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references
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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]
A variety of syntheses of lanthionine have been published including sulfur extrusion from cystine,[5] ring opening of serine β-lactone,[4] and hetero-conjugate addition of cysteine to dehydroalanine.[6] The sulfur extrusion method is, however, the only pathway for lanthionine that has been employed in the total synthesis of a lantibiotic.
Biosynthesis of the lanthionine bridge in peptidic natural products can be accomplished through a number of different pathways. For example, the lanthionine bridges in the antibiotic nisin are the result of a dedicated dehydratase (NisB) and a dedicated cyclase (NisC).[7][8]