The word "sulphydryl" is used in biochemistry to describe a molecule containing a sulfur atom and a hydrogen atom. The spelling of the word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /sʌlfʌɪdrɪl/. The "ph" in "sulphydryl" indicates that the "f" sound is pronounced instead of "sulthydryl". The "y" is added to clarify the pronunciation as "sulfur" is spelled with a "u" but pronounced with a "y" sound. The emphasis is on the second syllable, as indicated by the stress mark.
Sulphydryl, also spelled sulfhydryl, refers to a functional group in organic chemistry consisting of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (SH). It is commonly represented as -SH. The sulphydryl group is also known as a thiol group.
Sulphydryl groups are highly reactive due to the presence of a weakly acidic hydrogen and the ability of sulfur to form strong chemical bonds. They play a vital role in various biological, biochemical, and chemical processes. Sulphydryl groups are commonly found in biological molecules such as proteins, enzymes, and coenzymes. Proteins containing sulphydryl groups are referred to as thiols and are essential for the proper functioning of many biological processes.
The reactivity of sulphydryl groups allows them to participate in a variety of chemical reactions, including oxidation, reduction, and the formation of disulfide bonds. These disulfide bonds are formed when two sulphydryl groups undergo an oxidation reaction to create a covalent bond with each other, resulting in a molecule known as a disulfide. Disulfide bonds contribute to the stability and structure of proteins.
Sulphydryl groups also have significance in various biochemical processes, such as enzyme catalysis, metal binding, and regulating protein function. Additionally, they are widely employed in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical research as functional groups for modifying and manipulating molecules.
In summary, sulphydryl refers to a functional group consisting of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-SH). It is essential for various biological processes, plays a crucial role in protein structure and function, and exhibits reactivity in many chemical reactions.
The radical SH.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "sulphydryl" is derived from combining two elements: "sulphur" (also spelled "sulfur") and "hydryl".
- "Sulphur" comes from the Latin word "sulfur", which has its roots in the Sanskrit word "sulvere" and the Greek word "thiourion". Both of these words were used to refer to sulfur.
- "Hydryl" is derived from the Greek term "hydōr", meaning "water", which is combined with the suffix "-yl" to indicate a specific functional group in chemistry.
When combined, "sulphydryl" refers to a functional group consisting of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-SH). This group is commonly found in organic chemistry, particularly in compounds called thiols.