INHIBITORS Meaning and
Definition
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Inhibitors are substances or agents that obstruct or slow down a biological or chemical process by reducing the activity of an enzyme, a catalyst, or a protein. They commonly interfere with the function of these molecules by binding to them, thereby preventing their normal interaction with other molecules and impeding their activity.
In biology, inhibitors are crucial for regulating various biological processes. For instance, enzymatic inhibitors play a vital role in controlling enzymatic activity, either by competitive (competing for the enzyme's active site) or non-competitive mechanisms (binding elsewhere on the enzyme, altering its conformation). These inhibitors can be endogenous (naturally occurring within an organism) or exogenous (introduced from external sources).
Moreover, inhibitors find extensive application in medicine and pharmacology. In the context of drug development, inhibitors may target specific enzymes or proteins involved in disease processes, preventing their malfunction or excessive activity. They serve as therapeutic interventions for diseases like cancer, infections, or metabolic disorders. Inhibitors also come into play in the study of signaling pathways, as they assist in elucidating complex biological processes and investigating the role of particular molecules.
Furthermore, inhibitors are crucial in chemistry, where they prevent or retard undesired chemical reactions, allowing reaction control and selectivity. By blocking certain reactive sites or changing the reaction conditions, inhibitors enhance the efficiency of desired chemical reactions and minimize unwanted by-products.
Overall, inhibitors act as valuable tools across various scientific disciplines, contributing to disease treatment, scientific research, and fine-tuning chemical reactions. Their ability to interfere with biological and chemical processes makes them essential for understanding and manipulating these phenomena.
Top Common Misspellings for INHIBITORS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for INHIBITORS
Etymology of INHIBITORS
The word "inhibitors" originated from the Latin word "inhibitor", which is the present participle of the verb "inhibere". The Latin term "inhibere" is comprised of two components: "in", meaning "not", and "hibere", meaning "to hold, restrain, or keep". Therefore, the etymology of "inhibitors" suggests that these substances or agents hinder or restrict a certain process or action from occurring.
Similar spelling words for INHIBITORS
- inhibit,
- invitatory,
- inhabits,
- invidious,
- invidiously,
- inhabit,
- inhibiting,
- inhibition,
- inhibited,
- inhibitor,
- inhibitory.
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