Its chemical structure is similar to cystine but contains a methylene (single carbon) unit in between the two sulfur atoms.

[3] The amino acid precipitates into crystals which cause mechanical irritation of the renal tubules and urinary tract, resulting in symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, loin pains, severe colic, nausea, vomiting, dysuria, gross hematuria, and oliguria, occurring 2 to 6 hours after the beans were ingested.

[4] Urine analysis of patients reveals erythrocytes, epithelial cells, protein, and the needle-like crystals of djenkolic acid.

In young children, it has also been reported to produce painful swelling of the genitalia.

[2] Du Vigneaud and Patterson managed to synthesize djenkolic acid by condensation of methylene chloride with 2 moles of L-cysteine in liquid ammonia.