How Do You Spell FORMATE DEHYDROGENASE?

Pronunciation: [fˈɔːme͡ɪt dˌiːha͡ɪdɹˈə͡ʊd͡ʒne͡ɪs] (IPA)

Formate dehydrogenase is an enzyme involved in metabolic processes, particularly in the oxidization of formate to carbon dioxide. Its spelling can be broken down phonetically as "fɔːmeɪt di:haɪdrədʒəneɪz". The first syllable "for" is pronounced with an "o" sound like in "four", followed by "mate", pronounced with a long "a" sound like in "late". The word "dehydrogenase" is pronounced with a long "e" sound in "de", followed by "hydrogen" and ending with an "ase" sound like in "base". Overall, this word can be challenging to spell for those unfamiliar with its phonetic breakdown.

FORMATE DEHYDROGENASE Meaning and Definition

1. Formate dehydrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide, while simultaneously reducing an electron carrier such as NAD+. It belongs to the class of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on the CH-OH group of donor with NAD+ or NADP+ as an acceptor. This family of enzymes is crucial to several metabolic processes, as it participates in the breakdown of formate, which is an essential intermediate in various biochemical pathways.

   Formate dehydrogenase is typically classified into two major classes based on its cofactor utilization. Class I formate dehydrogenases contain a molybdenum cofactor (MoCo), while class II formate dehydrogenases utilize a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) cofactor. Both classes of formate dehydrogenase are found in various organisms, including bacteria, archaea, and certain eukaryotes.

   This enzyme plays a vital role in anaerobic metabolism, where formate serves as an electron donor and is converted to carbon dioxide. It also functions in the reverse direction under certain conditions, acting as a formate-producing reaction during the reduction of carbon dioxide. In addition to its involvement in energy metabolism, formate dehydrogenase has been studied for its potential applications in various biotechnological processes, such as the production of biofuels and the generation of electricity in microbial fuel cells.

   Overall, formate dehydrogenase plays a crucial role in numerous biological processes, serving as a key enzyme involved in formate metabolism and electron transfer reactions.

Etymology of FORMATE DEHYDROGENASE

The word "formate dehydrogenase" has its etymology rooted in the naming of enzymes based on the substrates they act upon and the chemical reactions they catalyze.

1. "Formate" refers to the substrate that the enzyme acts upon, which is formate. Formate is the anion of formic acid (HCOOH), a simple organic acid.

2. "Dehydrogenase" is a common term used to name enzymes that catalyze the removal of hydrogen atoms from a substrate. In this case, "dehydrogenase" indicates that the enzyme catalyzes the removal of hydrogen atoms from formate.

Therefore, "formate dehydrogenase" refers to an enzyme that catalyzes the removal of hydrogen atoms from formate.