GUANINE AMINASE Meaning and
Definition
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Guanine aminase, also known as guanine deaminase or guanase, is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of guanine, a nitrogenous base found in DNA, RNA, and various nucleotides, into xanthine. This reaction involves the removal of an amino group (-NH2) from guanine, resulting in the formation of xanthine and ammonia (NH3).
Guanine aminase is a key enzyme involved in the purine salvage pathway, which is responsible for the recycling and reutilization of purine nucleotides within the cell. It plays an essential role in maintaining cellular purine balance by preventing the accumulation of excess guanine.
The enzyme is found in various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, indicating its evolutionary significance. In humans, guanine aminase is encoded by the GDA gene located on chromosome 9. Mutations in this gene can lead to guanine aminase deficiency, a rare metabolic disorder characterized by the buildup of guanine in the body.
The biochemical activity of guanine aminase makes it a target for pharmaceutical research and drug design. Inhibition of this enzyme could potentially be used in the development of antiviral and antitumor drugs, as the excessive proliferation of certain viral or cancerous cells heavily relies on purine metabolism. Understanding the structure and function of guanine aminase can thus contribute to the advancement of therapeutic interventions targeting purine-related diseases.
Common Misspellings for GUANINE AMINASE
- fuanine aminase
- vuanine aminase
- buanine aminase
- huanine aminase
- yuanine aminase
- tuanine aminase
- gyanine aminase
- ghanine aminase
- gjanine aminase
- gianine aminase
- g8anine aminase
- g7anine aminase
- guznine aminase
- gusnine aminase
- guwnine aminase
- guqnine aminase
- guabine aminase
- guamine aminase
- guajine aminase
- guahine aminase
Etymology of GUANINE AMINASE
The term "Guanine Aminase" is a compound word consisting of two components: "guanine" and "aminase".
1. Guanine: The word "guanine" originates from the substance it represents, which is one of the four nucleobases found in DNA and RNA. Guanine was first isolated from guano, a natural fertilizer composed mainly of bird droppings. The term "guanine" is derived from the Spanish word "guano", which itself comes from the Quechua language spoken in Peru. Ultimately, the word traces back to an unknown origin.
2. Aminase: The suffix "-ase" in "aminase" indicates that it is an enzyme. In biochemistry, enzymes are often named by combining the name of the substrate they act upon with the suffix "-ase".
