CONVERSION OF CYSTINE OR CYSTEINE TO THE ANTIBACTERIAL COMPOUND BIS‐(2‐AMINO‐2‐CARBOXYETHYL) TRISULFIDE (BACTIN) ENHANCED BY FERRIC CHLORIDE AND SODIUM NITRITE

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Abstract
Heating of cystine at pH 6 or in hydrochloric acid, yielded Bis‐(2‐amino‐2‐carboxyethyl) trisulfide (Bactin), which had a bacteriostatic action on Lactobacillus plantarum. Heating of cysteine did not yield this compound, unless ferric chloride was present and the pH was low. In the presence of nitrite and ferric chloride, cysteine was efficiently converted to Bactin, also at pH 6. The bacteriostatic action was abolished by cysteine. We suggest that the bacteriostatic action of nitrite is due to facilitated conversion of cysteine to Bactin and a concommitant removal of thiol compounds, which otherwise abolish the bacteriostatic action.