title: Mycothiol: synthesis, biosynthesis and biological functions of the major low molecular weight thiol in actinomycetes.
abstract: Actinomycetes produce mycothiol as their major low molecular weight thiol, which parallels the functions of glutathione found in prokaryotes and most Gram-negative bacteria. This review covers progress that has so far been made in terms of its distribution, biosynthesis and metabolic functions, as well as chemical syntheses of mycothiol and alternative substrates and inhibitors of mycothiol biosynthesis and mycothiol-dependent enzymes. 152 references are cited.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Vishnu Karthik
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Jothivasan
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007294:Inositol / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006020:Glycopeptides; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C089265:mycothiol; D007294:Inositol; D003545:Cysteine