The molecule is an L-cysteine thioether that is L-cysteine in which the hydrogen of the thiol group has been replaced by a carboxymethyl group. It has a role as a mucolytic. It is a L-cysteine thioether and a non-proteinogenic L-alpha-amino acid. It is a conjugate acid of a S-carboxylatomethyl-L-cysteine(1-).
(2R)-2-amino-3-(carboxymethylsulfanyl)propanoic acid