penicillamine

See also: pénicillamine

English

Chemical structure of penicillamine

Etymology

Blend of penicillin +‎ amine.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌpɛn.ɪˈsɪl.ə.miːn/

Noun

penicillamine (countable and uncountable, plural penicillamines)

1. (biochemistry, pharmacology) A crystalline, sulfur-containing amino acid produced by the hydrolysis of penicillins, used pharmacologically as a chelating agent to remove heavy metals such as copper from the body, and as an anti-inflammatory agent, especially for rheumatoid arthritis; 2-amino-3-methyl-3-mercaptobutanoic acid, (CH₃)₂C(SH)CH(NH₂)COOH.

Translations

breakdown product of penicillin

• Italian: penicillamina (it) f
• Spanish: penicilamina f

References

• “penicillamine”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “penicillamine”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.