An amino acid containing sulfur that is similar to methionine, used in biochemical research to study protein synthesis and metabolism.
From ethio- (sulfur) + -ine (organic compound suffix). Created as a structural analog of methionine for research purposes in the mid-20th century.
Ethionine is a 'molecular imposter'—it tricks cells into using it like methionine, helping scientists watch what happens when cells build proteins with the wrong ingredients.
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