Description – l-cysteine (l-Cys) is a non-essential amino acid and thus is one of the building blocks required for the synthesis of proteins. It contains sulfur in the form of a thiol group (-SH) at the end of its side chain. The -SH group is responsible for the high reactive capacity of the amino acid, and therefore is responsible for many of its biological functions in human beings. l-Cys is the amino acid establishing disulfide bridges, a type of covalent bond that plays a fundamental role in the folding and stabilization of the tertiary structure of the proteins, thereby supporting their biological activities
Function – A form of cysteine called L-cysteine may help treat arthritis and hardening of the arteries. It may help treat certain lung diseases. These include bronchitis, emphysema, and tuberculosis. Cysteine may play a role in the normal growth rate of hair.