InterPro domain: IPR006947

Allicin is a thiosulphinate that gives rise to dithiines, allyl sulphides and ajoenes, the three groups of active compounds in Allium species. Allicin is synthesised from sulphoxide cysteine derivatives by alliinase, whose C-S lyase activity cleaves C(beta)-S(gamma) bonds. It is thought that this enzyme forms part of a primitive plant defence system [ 1 ].

This entry represents the N-terminal EGF-like domain [ 2 ].

1. The active principle of garlic at atomic resolution. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 46402-7