How Do You Spell RIBONUCLEOTIDE REDUCTASE?

Pronunciation: [ɹˈɪbənjˌuːklɪˌɒta͡ɪd ɹɪdˈʌkte͡ɪs] (IPA)

Ribonucleotide reductase is a complex enzyme that is involved in the biosynthesis of DNA molecules. It is a challenging word to spell as it contains numerous long words, each with their unique pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /raɪbəʊˌnjuːklɪətaɪd rɪˈdʌkteɪs/, which breaks down the word into its individual sounds. The tricky part to remember is the silent 'o' in "ribonucleotide," and the emphasis on the 'd' in "reductase." Overall, it is a complex but fascinating word that is essential in understanding the DNA replication process.

Meaning and Definition
Etymology
Basic Check Advanced Check

RIBONUCLEOTIDE REDUCTASE Meaning and Definition

  1. Ribonucleotide reductase is an essential enzyme that plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of DNA. It is responsible for catalyzing the conversion of ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA molecules. This enzymatic process is known as deoxyribonucleotide synthesis and is a fundamental step in DNA replication and repair.

    Specifically, ribonucleotide reductase reduces the ribose sugar of ribonucleotides to deoxyribose sugar, thus converting ribonucleotides (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil) into their corresponding deoxyribonucleotides (deoxyadenine, deoxyguanine, deoxycytosine, and thymine). This conversion is essential for generating the different deoxyribonucleotides required for DNA synthesis, as ribonucleotides are not directly incorporated into DNA molecules.

    Ribonucleotide reductase is an enzyme complex composed of multiple subunits that work together to carry out this conversion reaction. It utilizes a unique mechanism involving the transfer of an electron from a tyrosyl radical cofactor to the ribonucleotide substrate. This radical-dependent process ensures the proper reduction of ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides.

    The activity of ribonucleotide reductase is tightly regulated to maintain a balanced supply of deoxyribonucleotides for DNA synthesis. Dysregulation of this enzyme can lead to genomic instability, impaired DNA replication, and potentially contribute to the development of various diseases, including cancer. Hence, ribonucleotide reductase is an important target for therapeutic intervention in cancer treatment.

Etymology of RIBONUCLEOTIDE REDUCTASE

The word "ribonucleotide reductase" consists of multiple terms and has its etymology as follows:

1. Ribonucleotide: The term "ribonucleotide" is composed of two parts - "ribo" and "nucleotide". "Ribose" refers to the sugar molecule found in RNA (Ribonucleic Acid), and "nucleotide" refers to the building blocks of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). The etymology of "ribose" is derived from the Latin word "ribon" meaning "rib" and "ose" referring to sugar.

2. Reductase: The term "reductase" is derived from the word "reduce" which means to bring into a simpler or more reduced state. The suffix "-ase" indicates an enzyme, so "reductase" refers to an enzyme involved in the reduction of a molecule.