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In biochemistry, a zymogen (/ ˈ z aɪ m ə dʒ ən,-m oʊ-/ [1] [2]), also called a proenzyme (/ ˌ p r oʊ ˈ ɛ n z aɪ m / [3] [4]), is an inactive precursor of an enzyme.A zymogen requires a biochemical change (such as a hydrolysis reaction revealing the active site, or changing the configuration to reveal the active site) for it to become an active enzyme.
Metabolic intermediates are compounds produced during the conversion of substrates (starting molecules) into final products in biochemical reactions within cells. [1]Although these intermediates are of relatively minor direct importance to cellular function, they can play important roles in the allosteric regulation of enzymes, glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and amino acid synthesis.
In biochemistry, a metabolite is an intermediate or end product of metabolism. [1] The term is usually used for small molecules.Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, catalytic activity of their own (usually as a cofactor to an enzyme), defense, and interactions with other organisms (e.g. pigments, odorants, and ...
Chymotrypsinogen must be inactive until it gets to the digestive tract, in order to prevent damage to the pancreas or any other organs. It is activated by another enzyme called trypsin. The active form is called π-chymotrypsin and is used to create α-chymotrypsin.
The prothrombinase complex catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin (factor II), an inactive zymogen, to thrombin (factor IIa), an active serine protease. The activation of thrombin is a critical reaction in the coagulation cascade , which functions to regulate hemostasis in the body.
In chemistry, a precursor is a compound that participates in a chemical reaction that produces another compound. In biochemistry , the term "precursor" often refers more specifically to a chemical compound preceding another in a metabolic pathway , such as a protein precursor .
A protein precursor, also called a pro-protein or pro-peptide, is an inactive protein (or peptide) that can be turned into an active form by post-translational modification, such as breaking off a piece of the molecule or adding on another molecule. The name of the precursor for a protein is often prefixed by pro-.
A proto-metabolism is a series of linked chemical reactions in a prebiotic environment that preceded and eventually turned into modern metabolism.Combining ongoing research in astrobiology and prebiotic chemistry, work in this area focuses on reconstructing the connections between potential metabolic processes that may have occurred in early Earth conditions. [1]