The molecule is a thiol that is the alpha-anomeric glycoside of L-cysteinyl-D-glucosamine with L-malic acid. It has a role as an antioxidant, a cofactor and a bacterial metabolite. It is a glycoside, a thiol and a monosaccharide derivative. It is a conjugate acid of a bacillithiol(1-).
(2S)-2-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-[[(2R)-2-amino-3-sulfanylpropanoyl]amino]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutanedioic acid