ANTIENZYME Meaning and
Definition
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Antienzyme is a term used in biochemistry to describe substances or molecules that inhibit or counteract the activity of enzymes. Enzymes are protein molecules that serve as catalysts in various biochemical reactions occurring in living organisms. They facilitate these reactions by speeding up the rate of the reaction without being consumed or permanently altered in the process. However, in certain cases, the activity of enzymes needs to be modulated or controlled, and this is where antienzymes come into play.
Antienzymes are molecules that specifically bind to enzymes and interfere with their normal function, effectively stopping or reducing the rate of the reaction they catalyze. They act by binding to the active site of the enzyme or through other mechanisms that disrupt the enzyme-substrate interactions required for the reaction to occur.
The inhibitory effects of antienzymes can be either reversible or irreversible, depending on the specific interactions between the antienzyme and the enzyme. Reversible inhibitors can dissociate from the enzyme, allowing for the restoration of normal enzyme activity once the inhibitor is removed. In contrast, irreversible inhibitors form strong, covalent bonds with the enzyme, permanently inactivating it.
Antienzymes have significant applications in medical and pharmaceutical research. They can be used to design drugs that target and inhibit specific enzymes involved in disease processes, such as cancer or infections. By selectively targeting problematic enzymes, antienzymes can help regulate or suppress abnormal enzyme activity, ultimately restoring normal physiological function.
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1. An antibody to an enzyme. 2. An inhibitory enzyme, one capable of retarding or checking the activity of another enzyme.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ANTIENZYME
- zntienzyme
- sntienzyme
- wntienzyme
- qntienzyme
- abtienzyme
- amtienzyme
- ajtienzyme
- ahtienzyme
- anrienzyme
- anfienzyme
- angienzyme
- anyienzyme
- an6ienzyme
- an5ienzyme
- antuenzyme
- antjenzyme
- antkenzyme
- antoenzyme
- ant9enzyme
- ant8enzyme
Etymology of ANTIENZYME
The word "antienzyme" is derived from two components: "anti-" and "enzyme".
The prefix "anti-" comes from the Greek word "anti" (ἀντί), meaning "against" or "opposite". It is commonly used to indicate opposition, counteraction, or negation.
The term "enzyme" is derived from the Greek word "enzymos" (ἔνζυμος), meaning "in yeast" or "in leaven". In the late 19th century, German physiologist Wilhelm Kühne coined the term "enzyme" to describe the biological catalysts found in living organisms.
Therefore, "antienzyme" combines the prefix "anti-" and the word "enzyme" to form a term that refers to a substance or molecule that acts against or inhibits the function of an enzyme.
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