Tag: AMINO ACID

  • Valine

    Valine (symbol Val or V) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated −NH3+ form under biological conditions), an α-carboxylic acid group (which is in the deprotonated −COO− form under biological conditions), and a side chain isopropyl group, making it a non-polar aliphatic amino acid. Valine is essential in humans, meaning the body cannot synthesize it; it…

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  • Protein phosphorylation was first reported in 1906

    Protein phosphorylation is a reversible post-translational modification of proteins in which an amino acid residue is phosphorylated by a protein kinase by the addition of a covalently bound phosphate group. Phosphorylation alters the structural conformation of a protein, causing it to become activated, deactivated, or otherwise modifying its function. Approximately 13,000 human proteins have sites that are phosphorylated. The reverse reaction of phosphorylation is called dephosphorylation, and is catalyzed by…

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  • ÎČ-Methylamino-L-alanine, or BMAA

    ÎČ-Methylamino-L-alanine, or BMAA, is a non-proteinogenic amino acid produced by cyanobacteria. BMAA is a neurotoxin and its potential role in various neurodegenerative disorders is the subject of scientific research. Structure and properties BMAA is a derivative of the amino acid alanine with a methylamino group on the side chain. This non-proteinogenic amino acid is classified as a polar base. Sources and detection BMAA is produced by cyanobacteria in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. In…

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  • Xylose is the first saccharide added to the serine or threonine in the proteoglycan type O-glycosylation

    Xylose is the first saccharide added to the serine or threonine in the proteoglycan type O-glycosylation, and, so, it is the first saccharide in biosynthetic pathways of most anionic polysaccharides such as heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Definitions Proteoglycans are proteins that are heavily glycosylated. The basic proteoglycan unit consists of a “core protein” with one or more covalently attached glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain(s). The point of attachment is a serine (Ser) residue to which the glycosaminoglycan is joined through…

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  • Evidence against pi stacking

    The benzene dimer is the prototypical system for the study of pi stacking, and is experimentally bound by 8–12 kJ/mol (2–3 kcal/mol) in the gas phase with a separation of 4.96 Å between the centers of mass for the T-shaped dimer. The small binding energy makes the benzene dimer difficult to study experimentally, and the dimer itself…

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  • Pi stacking aka π–π stacking

    Pi stacking aka π–π stacking

    In chemistry, pi stacking (also called π–π stacking) refers to the presumptive attractive, noncovalent pi interactions (orbital overlap) between the pi bonds of aromatic rings. However this is a misleading description of the phenomena since direct stacking of aromatic rings (the “sandwich interaction”) is electrostatically repulsive. What is more commonly observed (see figure below) is either a staggered stacking (parallel displaced) or pi-teeing (perpendicular T-shaped) interaction both of which are electrostatic attractive For…

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  • Arginine

    Arginine is the amino acid with the formula (H2N)(HN)CN(H)(CH2)3CH(NH2)CO2H. The molecule features a guanidino group appended to a standard amino acid framework. At physiological pH, the carboxylic acid is deprotonated (−CO2−) and both the amino and guanidino groups are protonated, resulting in a cation. Only the l-arginine (symbol Arg or R) enantiomer is found naturally. Arg residues are common components of proteins. It is encoded by the codons CGU, CGC,…

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  • Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor aka class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 32 or bHLHe32

    Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor also known as class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 32 or bHLHe32 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MITF gene. AKA MITF, CMM8, MI, WS2, WS2A, bHLHe32, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, melanogenesis associated transcription factor, COMMAD, melanocyte inducing transcription factor, MITF-A RNA expression pattern Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed inretinal pigment epitheliumright ventriclemyocardiumvastus lateralis muscledeltoid muscleurethrarenal medullavisceral pleurasaphenous veinsecondary oocyte Top…

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  • Peptidomimetic

    A protein mimetic is a molecule such as a peptide, a modified peptide or any other molecule that biologically mimics the action or activity of some other protein. Protein mimetics are commonly used in drug design and discovery. Types of mimetics There are a number of different distinct classes of protein mimetics. A peptidomimetic is a small protein-like chain designed to mimic a peptide.[1] They typically…

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  • Phosphomimetics

    A protein mimetic is a molecule such as a peptide, a modified peptide or any other molecule that biologically mimics the action or activity of some other protein. Protein mimetics are commonly used in drug design and discovery. Types of mimetics There are a number of different distinct classes of protein mimetics. PHOSPHOMIMETICS Phosphomimetics are amino acid substitutions that mimic a phosphorylated protein, thereby activating (or…

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  • Lysine Tyrosylquinone (LTQ)

    Lysine Tyrosylquinone (LTQ)

    LTQ does not have a wikipedia page so I will check elsewhere. In the meantime, I found another reason to just say no to beans – osteolathyrism aka odoratism, which is a form of the disease Lathyrism. Wikipedia says: The disease results from the ingestion of Lathyrus odoratus seeds (sweet peas) from the family Fabaceae (legumes). The toxin found in the sweet peas is…

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  • Desmosine

    Desmosine

    Desmosine is an amino acid found uniquely in elastin, a protein found in connective tissue such as skin, lungs, and elastic arteries. Desmosine is a component of elastin and cross links with its isomer, isodesmosine, giving elasticity to the tissue. Detection of desmosine in urine, plasma or sputum samples can be a marker for elastin breakdown due to high elastase activity related to certain diseases.…

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  • A tetrapeptide is a peptide, classified as an oligopeptide, since it only consists of four amino acids

    A tetrapeptide is a peptide, classified as an oligopeptide, since it only consists of four amino acids

    Examples of tetrapeptides are: See also Hormones Categories:  From Wikipedia where this page was last updated July 2, 2022

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  • What Is Metalloproteinase?

    Metalloproteinase – the name alone screams “I’m here to ruin everything” – is a feral pack of enzymes armed with metal claws (zinc, mostly, because it’s the shiniest weapon in the elemental arsenal) that shred proteins like they’re auditioning for a slasher flick. These molecular psychopaths don’t just cut – they obliterate, turning the extracellular…

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  • Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

    Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone for the maternal recognition of pregnancy produced by trophoblast cells that are surrounding a growing embryo (syncytiotrophoblast initially), which eventually forms the placenta after implantation. Cole LA (2009). “New discoveries on the biology and detection of human chorionic gonadotropin”. Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 7: 8. doi:10.1186/1477-7827-7-8. PMC 2649930. PMID 19171054. Gregory JJ, Finlay JL (April 1999). “Alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin: their clinical significance as…

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