thiol; sulhydryl compound; mercaptan

Introduction

A compound that contains the functional group -SH, the sulfur analogue of an alcohol group -OH.

The term mercaptan comes from the Latin mercurius captans, meaning 'laying hold of mercury,' because the -SH group binds tightly to the element mercury.

Many thiols are colorless liquids often with strong & repulsive odor. Thiols bind strongly to skin proteins, & are responsible for the intolerable, persistent odor produced by the spraying of skunks.

Cysteine (Cys) is the thiol of proteins.

More general terms

• sulfur compound

More specific terms

• 1,4-dithiothreitol; 1,4-dimercapato-2,3-butanediol (DTT, Cleland's reagent)
• 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (Captax, Mebetizole)
• 4-phosphopantothenoylcysteine
• amifostine (Ethyol, ethiofos, gammaphos, amifostinum)
• captopril (Capoten)
• coenzyme A
• cysteamine; 2-aminoethanethiol (Cystagon)
• cysteine
• dimercaprol (BAL, British anti-Lewisite, dithioglycerol, Sulfactin, Dimersol, Antoxol, Panobal)
• homocysteine
• lipoate; thioctic acid; thioctate; alpha-lipoic acid
• mesna; 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate; 2-sulfanylethanesulfonic acid (Mesnex, Uromitexan, Mistabronco)
• pantetheine
• penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen)
• pyrithione; 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide
• thiorphan (Lopac-T-6031, Prestwick-694)
• thiosalicylate
• tiopronin; alpha-mercaptopropionylglycine (Tiola)
• unithiol (2,3-dithiopropanesulfate, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonate)