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Glossary of Biochemistry Terms
beginning with letter A
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acetylcholine
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noun
  1. (neurotransmitter) A neurotransmitter in humans and other animals. It is an ester of acetic acid and choline with chemical formula acetyl, CH<small>3</small>COoxygen, Omethylene, CH<small>2</small>methylene, CH<small>2</small>Nitrogen, N<small>+</small>(methyl, CH<small>3</small>)<small>3</small>.
acetylcholinesterase
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noun
  1. (enzyme) An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid.
ACTH
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initialism
  1. adrenocorticotropic hormone
adenine
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noun
  1. (context, biochemistry, genetics) A base, C5H5N5, found in certain glands and tissues, which pairs with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA.
adenosine
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noun
  1. (context, biochemistry, genetics) A nucleoside derived from adenine and ribose, found in striated muscle tissue.
    • 2001: Caffeine acts as an antagonist at receptors in the brain for one of the chemical messengers called . " Leslie Iversen, Drugs: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford 2001, p. 82)
adenosine monophosphate
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noun (abbreviated as AMP)
  1. a nucleotide, found in all animal muscle cells, reversibly convertible to adenosine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate.
adenosine triphosphate
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noun (abbreviation ATP)
  1. (biochemistry) A nucleotide that occurs in muscle tissue, and is used as a source of energy in cellular reactions, and in the synthesis of nucleic acids.
  2. (neurotransmitter) A neurotransmitter recognised by purinergic receptors.
ADH
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initialism
  1. Antidiuretic Hormone
ADP
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initialism
  1. (biochemistry) adenosine diphosphate
adrenergic
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adjective
  1. Having the quality of adrenaline or epinephrine.
  2. Containing or releasing adrenaline.
(seeCites)
AFP
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initialism
  1. Australian Federal Police
  • French: Agence France-Presse
ALA
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initialism
  1. Alpha Linolenic Acid
  2. American Library Association
  3. Acacia Leadership Academy
alanine
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noun
  1. (amino acid) A nonessential amino acid C3H7NO2 found in most animal proteins.
albumen
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noun (albumens, pl2=albumina, -)
  1. The white part of an egg; being mostly the protein albumin and water.
albumin
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noun
  1. A class of proteins that are soluble in water, and are coagulated by heat; they occur in egg white, milk etc
albuminous
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adjective
  1. Of or pertaining to albumin.
aldosterone
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noun
  1. (steroid hormone) A mineralocorticoid hormone, secreted by the adrenal cortex, that regulates the balance of sodium and potassium in the body.
amino acid
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noun
  1. (organic chemistry) Any organic compound containing both an amine, amino and a carboxylic acid functional group.
  2. (biochemistry) Any of the twenty naturally occurring &alpha;-amino acids (having the amino, and carboxylic acid groups on the same carbon atom), and a variety of side chains, that combine, via peptide bonds, to form proteins.
aminotransferase
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noun
  1. (enzyme) transaminase
AMP
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initialism
  1. adenosine monophosphate
amylase
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noun
  1. (enzyme) Any of a class of digestive enzymes, present in saliva, that break down complex carbohydrates such as starch into simpler sugars such as glucose.
amyloid
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noun
  1. A waxy compound of protein and polysaccharides that is found deposited in tissues in amyloidosis.
  2. Any of various starchlike substances.
adjective
  1. Containing or resembling starch
androgen
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noun
  1. (steroid hormone) The generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates. A male sex hormone such as testosterone or anabolic steroids.
androsterone
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noun
  1. (steroid hormone) An androgenic hormone, excreted in the urine, somewhat less active than testosterone.
anneal
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verb
  1. (context, metallurgy) To subject to great heat, and then cool slowly for the purpose of rendering less brittle; to temper; to toughen.
anthocyanin
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noun
  1. (organic chemistry) Any of many water-soluble red to violet plant pigments related to the flavonoids.
antibiotic
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noun
  1. (pharmacology) Any substance that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms.
adjective
  1. (pharmacology) Of or relating to antibiotics.
antioxidant
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noun
  1. any substance that acts to slow or prevent the oxidation of another chemical
  2. in nutrition, one of a group of vitamins that act against the effects of free radicals
adjective
  1. acting or havirng agents that act against oxidation
antivitamin
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noun
  1. (biochemistry) any compound that inhibits the metabolic action of a vitamin
arachidonic acid
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noun
  1. (biochemistry) A long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, found in animal fats; it is essential for human nutrition, being a precursor to the production of prostaglandins.
arginine
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noun
  1. An amino acid found in animal foods that plays an important role in several physiological processes
ascorbic acid
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noun
  1. A white crystalline organic compound, C6H8O6, found in citrus fruits and many vegetables; it is an antioxidant and an efficient scavenger of free radicals.
ASP
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initialism
  1. Active Server Pages
  2. Application Service Provider
  3. An extensible baton, used by police and security officers. From the name of the manufacturer: Amalgamated Security Products.
aspartic acid
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noun
  1. (amino acid) A nonessential amino acid, L-α-amino-succinic acid, (C4H7NO4), found in animal protein and in sugar beet etc.
ATP
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initialism
  1. (biochemistry) adenosine triphosphate
  2. (tennis) w:Association of Tennis Professionals, Association of Tennis Professionals
autolysis
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noun
  1. (context, pathology, cytology) The destruction of an organism's cells by enzymes produced by the organism itself.
  2. (pathology) The autodigestion of the tissues of an organism.
  3. (pathology) The autocytolysis of blood cells.
  4. The decomposition of dead yeast cells in wine after fermentation.
auxin
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noun
  1. (botany)A class of plant growth substance (often called phytohormones or plant hormones) which play an essential role in coordination of many growth and behavioral processes in the plant life cycle.

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