The molecule is a non-proteinogenic dipeptide formed from L-gamma-glutamic acid and hercynyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide residues. It is an intermediate in the synthesis of ergothioneine, a compound found in certain fungi and mycobacteria. It has a role as a fungal metabolite. It is an ammonium betaine, a dipeptide and a sulfoxide. It derives from a L-cysteine and a L-histidine. It is a conjugate acid of a N(alpha)-(L-gamma-glutamyl)-hercynyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide(1-).
(2S)-3-[2-[(2R)-2-[[(4S)-4-amino-4-carboxybutanoyl]amino]-2-carboxyethyl]sulfinyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl]-2-(trimethylazaniumyl)propanoate