L-CYSTEINE and CYSTINE

For a long time, the bio-technological production of cysteine was considered to be expensive and difficult. Since then, a German company (Wacker Chemie) has been successful in applying biotechnical processes to E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria for a profitable fermentative production of cysteine. The E. coli bacteria use glucose (sugar) and some mineral salts to produce the desired cysteine in large quantities and convey the amino acid into the nutrient solution. The process has been applied since 2001. The yield of such bio-technical production of cysteine is approximately 30 per cent higher than in the classical procedure. Additionally, the quantity of hydrochloric acid necessary for the bio-technical method is only four percent of the quantity that otherwise has been required. From GMO-Compass : http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/database/ingredients/108.cysteine.html