cysteine

American  

[sis-tee-een, -in] / ˈsɪs tiˌin, -ɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a crystalline amino acid, C 3 H 7 O 2 NS, a component of nearly all proteins, obtained by the reduction of cystine. Cys; C

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cysteine British  

/ -ɪn, ˈsɪstɪˌiːn /

noun

1. a sulphur-containing amino acid, present in proteins, that oxidizes on exposure to air to form cystine. Formula: HSCH 2 CH(NH 2 )COOH

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cysteine Scientific  

/ sĭs′tə-ēn′ /

1. A nonessential amino acid. Chemical formula: C ₃ H ₇ NO ₂ S.

2. See more at amino acid

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Other Word Forms

• cysteinic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cysteine

First recorded in 1880–85; alteration of cystine

Compare meaning

How does cysteine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cysteine vs. cystine

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cysteine

Their investigation revealed that the reaction targets a specific component of the protein called cysteine 148.

From Science Daily ● May 31, 2026

The human body can also produce cysteine on its own by converting another amino acid called methionine in the liver.

From Science Daily ● May 21, 2026

When intestinal cells absorb cysteine from food, they convert it into a molecule called CoA.

From Science Daily ● May 21, 2026

In a new study, scientists found that cysteine can activate an immune response that boosts intestinal stem cells and helps regenerate tissue in the small intestine.

From Science Daily ● May 21, 2026

Beans have both lysine and tryptophan, but not the amino acids cysteine and methionine, which are provided by maize.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann