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Cysteine (abbreviated to Cys or C) is an [[Amino acid|amino acid]] with the side chain -CH<sub>2</sub>SH.&nbsp; Cysteine, like [[Methionine|methionine]], contains [[Sulphur|sulphur]]. It is a non-polar [[Amino acids|amino acid that]] contains a very reactive&nbsp;thiol or [[Sulfhydryl group|sulfhydryl group]] (-SH). The presence of this group&nbsp;allows cysteine to&nbsp;form strong [[Disulphide bridges|disulphide bridges]]&nbsp;when paired with&nbsp;another cysteine. Cysteine therefore plays an important structural role in [[Proteins|proteins]].&nbsp;The ability of cysteine to form [[Disulphide bridges|disulphide bridges]] is of great significance for [[Proteins|proteins]] that have to work outside of the [[Cell|cell]].&nbsp;This is because the cysteine side chain of these [[Protein|proteins]]&nbsp;forms [[Disulphide bond|disulphide bonds]]&nbsp;which&nbsp;increases the stability of the [[Proteins|proteins]]. It&nbsp;should be noted, however, that [[Proteins|proteins]] working inside the cell do not form [[Disulphide bond|disulphide bonds]]&nbsp;<ref>Berg et al., Biochemistry, 6th Edition, 2007: 31.</ref>.&nbsp;<br>  
Cysteine (abbreviated to Cys or C) is one of 20 [[Amino_acids|amino acids]] and has the side chain -CH<sub>2</sub>SH.&nbsp; Cysteine, like [[Methionine|methionine]], contains [[Sulphur|sulphur]]. It is a non-polar [[Amino acids|amino acid that]] contains a very reactive&nbsp;thiol or [[Sulfhydryl group|sulfhydryl group]] (-SH). The presence of this group&nbsp;allows cysteine to&nbsp;form strong [[Disulphide bridges|disulphide bridges]]&nbsp;when paired with&nbsp;another cysteine. Cysteine therefore plays an important structural role in [[Proteins|proteins]].&nbsp;The ability of cysteine to form [[Disulphide bridges|disulphide bridges]] is of great significance for [[Proteins|proteins]] that have to work outside of the [[Cell|cell]].&nbsp;This is because the cysteine side chain of these [[Protein|proteins]]&nbsp;forms [[Disulphide bond|disulphide bonds]]&nbsp;which&nbsp;increases the stability of the [[Proteins|proteins]]. It&nbsp;should be noted, however, that [[Proteins|proteins]] working inside the cell do not form [[Disulphide bond|disulphide bonds]]&nbsp;<ref>Berg et al., Biochemistry, 6th Edition, 2007: 31.</ref>.&nbsp;<br>


=== '''References'''  ===
=== '''References'''  ===


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Revision as of 14:35, 3 December 2015

Cysteine (abbreviated to Cys or C) is one of 20 amino acids and has the side chain -CH2SH.  Cysteine, like methionine, contains sulphur. It is a non-polar amino acid that contains a very reactive thiol or sulfhydryl group (-SH). The presence of this group allows cysteine to form strong disulphide bridges when paired with another cysteine. Cysteine therefore plays an important structural role in proteins. The ability of cysteine to form disulphide bridges is of great significance for proteins that have to work outside of the cell. This is because the cysteine side chain of these proteins forms disulphide bonds which increases the stability of the proteins. It should be noted, however, that proteins working inside the cell do not form disulphide bonds [1]. 

References

  1. ↑ Berg et al., Biochemistry, 6th Edition, 2007: 31.
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