Methionine is an essential amino acid in humans. As the precursor of other amino acids such as cysteine and taurine, versatile compounds such as SAM-e, and the important antioxidant glutathione, methionine plays a critical role in the metabolism and health of many species, including humans. It is encoded by the codon AUG.
Trimethylglycine (TMG) is an amino acid derivative that occurs in plants. Trimethylglycine was the first betaine discovered; originally it was simply called betaine because, in the 19th century, it was discovered in sugar beets. Since then, many other betaines have been discovered, and the more specific name glycine betaine distinguishes this one.
A betaine in chemistry is any neutral chemical compound with a positively charged cationic functional group, such as a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium cation that bears no hydrogen atom and with a negatively charged functional group such as a carboxylate group that may not be adjacent to the cationic site. It is a modified amino acid consisting of glycine with three methyl groups serving as methyl donor for various metabolic pathways. Historically, the term was reserved for trimethylglycine (TMG) which is involved in methylation reactions and detoxification of homocysteine.
Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is a mixture of closely related organic compounds derived from coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine. CAPB is available as a viscous pale yellow solution and it is used as a surfactant in personal care products. The name reflects that the major part of the molecule, the lauric acid group, is derived from coconut oil. Cocamidopropyl betaine to a significant degree has replaced cocamide DEA.
Osmotic shock or osmotic stress is physiologic dysfunction caused by a sudden change in the solute concentration around a cell, which causes a rapid change in the movement of water across its cell membrane. Under hypertonic conditions - conditions of high concentrations of either salts, substrates or any solute in the supernatant - water is drawn out of the cells through osmosis. This also inhibits the transport of substrates and cofactors into the cell thus “shocking” the cell. Alternatively, under hypotonic conditions - when concentrations of solutes are low - water enters the cell in large amounts, causing it to swell and either burst or undergo apoptosis.
NMDA receptor antagonists are a class of drugs that work to antagonize, or inhibit the action of, the N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). They are commonly used as anesthetics for animals and humans; the state of anesthesia they induce is referred to as dissociative anesthesia.
4-Chloroindole-3-acetic acid (4-Cl-IAA) is an organic compound that functions as a plant hormone.
In enzymology, a diaminobutyrate acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.178) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
In enzymology, a N-acetylneuraminate 4-O-acetyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
In enzymology, chlorophyll synthase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
In enzymology, a galactinol-sucrose galactosyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
Protein AMBP is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AMBP gene.
Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EEF2 gene. It is the archaeal and eukaryotic counterpart of bacterial EF-G.
Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITIH1 gene.
Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITIH2 gene.
Carboxypeptidase N catalytic chain is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CPN1 gene.
Neutrophil collagenase, also known as matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) or PMNL collagenase (MNL-CL), is a collagen cleaving enzyme which is present in the connective tissue of most mammals. In humans, the MMP-8 protein is encoded by the MMP8 gene. The gene is part of a cluster of MMP genes which localize to chromosome 11q22.3. Most MMP's are secreted as inactive proproteins which are activated when cleaved by extracellular proteinases. However, the enzyme encoded by this gene is stored in secondary granules within neutrophils and is activated by autolytic cleavage.
Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are small secondary metabolites produced by organisms that live in environments with high volumes of sunlight, usually marine environments. The exact number of compounds within this class of natural products is yet to be determined, since they have only relatively recently been discovered and novel molecular species are constantly being discovered; however, to date their number is around 30. They are commonly described as “microbial sunscreens” although their function is believed not to be limited to sun protection. MAAs represent high potential in cosmetics, and biotechnological applications. Indeed, their UV-absorbing properties would allow to create products derived from natural photoprotectors, potentially harmless to the environment and efficient against UV damage.
Prolyl aminopeptidase is an enzyme. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction
Chlorophyllide a and Chlorophyllide b are the biosynthetic precursors of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b respectively. Their propionic acid groups are converted to phytyl esters by the enzyme chlorophyll synthase in the final step of the pathway. Thus the main interest in these chemical compounds has been in the study of chlorophyll biosynthesis in plants, algae and cyanobacteria. Chlorophyllide a is also an intermediate in the biosynthesis of bacteriochlorophylls.
