ISOPROPYL THIOGALACTOSIDE Meaning and
Definition
-
Isopropyl thiogalactoside (IPTG) is a synthetic carbohydrate molecule commonly used in molecular biology to induce the expression of specific genes in bacterial cells. It is a colorless powder that can be dissolved in water or other aqueous solutions.
IPTG is an analog of lactose, a naturally occurring sugar found in milk, but with a sulfur atom replacing the oxygen atom in the galactose moiety. This modification makes IPTG resistant to degradation by the bacterial enzyme beta-galactosidase, resulting in its accumulation within the cell.
In molecular biology experiments, IPTG is often added to the growth media of bacterial cultures in order to initiate the expression of genes controlled by the lac operon. It acts as an inducer, binding to the lac repressor protein and preventing it from inhibiting the transcription of the target gene. This allows the production of specific proteins of interest, such as enzymes or fluorescent proteins, for further study or application.
IPTG is preferred over lactose as an inducer because it does not interfere with assays for the gene product being studied. Additionally, its non-metabolizable nature ensures the sustained presence of the inducer within the cell, ensuring continuous gene expression.
Overall, isopropyl thiogalactoside is an essential tool in molecular biology research, enabling the controlled and efficient expression of genes of interest in bacterial systems.
Common Misspellings for ISOPROPYL THIOGALACTOSIDE
- usopropyl thiogalactoside
- jsopropyl thiogalactoside
- ksopropyl thiogalactoside
- osopropyl thiogalactoside
- 9sopropyl thiogalactoside
- 8sopropyl thiogalactoside
- iaopropyl thiogalactoside
- izopropyl thiogalactoside
- ixopropyl thiogalactoside
- idopropyl thiogalactoside
- ieopropyl thiogalactoside
- iwopropyl thiogalactoside
- isipropyl thiogalactoside
- iskpropyl thiogalactoside
- islpropyl thiogalactoside
- isppropyl thiogalactoside
- is0propyl thiogalactoside
- is9propyl thiogalactoside
- isooropyl thiogalactoside
- isolropyl thiogalactoside
Etymology of ISOPROPYL THIOGALACTOSIDE
The word "Isopropyl Thiogalactoside" is a compound made up of multiple components. Here is the breakdown of the etymology for each part:
1. Isopropyl: The term "isopropyl" refers to a chemical group known as an isopropyl group, which consists of three carbon atoms bonded together. It is derived from the term "propyl" which refers to a three-carbon chain. The prefix "iso-" indicates that the chemical group is an isomer of propyl, meaning it has a different arrangement of atoms but the same chemical formula.
2. Thiogalactoside: "Thiogalactoside" is composed of two parts: "thio" and "galactoside". The prefix "thio-" indicates the presence of a sulfur atom in the molecular structure.
