How Do You Spell ACETOLACTATE SYNTHASE?

Pronunciation: [ˌasɪtəlˈakte͡ɪt sˈɪnθe͡ɪs] (IPA)

The word "Acetolactate Synthase" is spelled as [əˌsitəʊˈlæktɪt sɪnθeɪs]. This word consists of three parts: "Acetolactate," which refers to a compound in plants, "Synthase," which refers to an enzyme that synthesizes a substance in organisms, and the word "Acetolactate Synthase" itself means an enzyme that produces acetolactate. The spelling of the word follows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) that uses symbols to represent the sounds of the English language.

ACETOLACTATE SYNTHASE Meaning and Definition

1. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is an enzyme that plays a critical role in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in plants, bacteria, and fungi. It is specifically responsible for the conversion of pyruvic acid, derived from the glycolysis pathway, into 2-acetolactate. This reaction is a key step in the biosynthesis of valine, leucine, and isoleucine, which are essential amino acids required for protein synthesis and various metabolic processes.

   The ALS enzyme catalyzes the condensation of two pyruvic acid molecules, utilizing a thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) cofactor, to form 2-acetolactate. This product is subsequently transformed into its corresponding keto acid through a series of enzymatic reactions, leading to the formation of BCAAs.

   Because of its crucial role in BCAA biosynthesis, acetolactate synthase is the target of certain herbicides known as ALS-inhibitors. These herbicides specifically inhibit the activity of ALS in susceptible plants, blocking the production of BCAAs and ultimately leading to impaired growth and development, and eventually death of the plant.

   In summary, acetolactate synthase is an enzyme that catalyzes a vital step in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids. Its inhibition can be utilized in selective weed control strategies, while an understanding of its function can provide insights into the regulation of BCAA biosynthesis in plants, bacteria, and fungi.

Common Misspellings for ACETOLACTATE SYNTHASE

• zcetolactate synthase
• scetolactate synthase
• wcetolactate synthase
• qcetolactate synthase
• axetolactate synthase
• avetolactate synthase
• afetolactate synthase
• adetolactate synthase
• acwtolactate synthase
• acstolactate synthase
• acdtolactate synthase
• acrtolactate synthase
• ac4tolactate synthase
• ac3tolactate synthase
• acerolactate synthase
• acefolactate synthase
• acegolactate synthase
• aceyolactate synthase
• ace6olactate synthase
• ace5olactate synthase

Etymology of ACETOLACTATE SYNTHASE

The word "acetolactate synthase" has a technical etymology derived from the constituent components of the term.

1. Aceto-: This prefix comes from the Latin word "acetum", meaning vinegar or sour, and denotes a connection to acetic acid or its derivatives.

2. Lactate: This word originates from the Latin term "lactis", which means milk. It refers to a type of chemical compound called a lactate, which is derived from lactic acid.

3. Synthase: This suffix is derived from the word "synthesize", which comes from the Greek term "synthesis", meaning to combine or put together. The -ase ending denotes an enzyme, indicating that acetolactate synthase is an enzyme responsible for synthesizing or creating acetolactate.