Monoamine Oxidase Definition Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme in the cells of most tissues that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of monoamines such as serotonin. It is a family of enzymes involved in the metabolism of monoamines. Their role in the breaking down of monoamines has caused monoamine.....
Aldehyde Oxidase Definition Aldehyde oxidase (AO) is a molybdenum-containing oxidoreductase that is similar to xanthine oxidase, also a molybdoenzyme. It catalyzes the oxidation of aldehydes into carboxylic acid, and in addition, catalyzes the hydrozylation of some heterocycles. It can also catal.....
Uric Acid Definition Uric acid is a product produced by the body after the purines in many foods undergo the digestive process and are broken down inside the body. It is a heterocyclic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen with the formula C5H4N4O3. It forms ions and salts known as u.....
Calcium Bicarbonate Definition Calcium bicarbonate consists of calcium, hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. It is not a naturally occurring solid, but it does form in water when calcium, carbonate and bicarbonate ions are dissolved with carbon dioxide. It is commonly knows as quick lime. It’s chem.....
Carbonic Acid Definition Carbonic acid is a weak, unstable acid present in solutions of carbon dioxide in water. It gives carbonated beverages their sharp taste. Its chemical formula: H2CO3. Carbonic acid exists only in the form of its salts (carbonates), acid salts (hydrogen carbonates), amines .....
Carbonic Anhydrase Definition Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme that assists rapid inter-conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid, protons and bicarbonate ions. The active site of most carbonic anhydrases contains a zinc ion; they are therefore classified as metalloenzymes. Carboni.....
Xanthine Oxidase Definition Xanthine oxidase is a form of xanthine oxidoreductase, an enzyme that generates reactive oxygen species such as superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide when it catalyzes the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine, and can further catalyze the oxidation of xanthine to .....
Superoxide Definition Superoxide is any of certain metal oxides that contain the O2 – ion: potassium superoxide, KO2. It is important as the product of the one-electron reduction of dioxygen (oxygen gas), which occurs widely in nature. With one unpaired electron, the superoxide ion is a free ra.....
Copolymer Definition Copolymer is a polymer of two or more different monomers. The synthetic rubber used to make tire treads and shoe soles, for example, is a copolymer made of the monomers butadiene and styrene. A polymer is a large molecule that is formed from the joining together of many repea.....
Teichoic Acid Definition Teichoic acid is any of a class of strongly acidic polymers found in the cell walls, capsules, and membranes of all gram-positive bacteria and containing residues of the phosphates of glycerol and adonitol. It is one of two types of polymers present in gram-positive bacte.....
Oxide Definition Oxide is a compound of oxygen and another element or radical. Water (H2O) is an oxide. Oxides are binary compounds of oxygen with another element, e.g., CO2, SO2, CaO, CO, ZnO, BaO2, H2O, etc. These are termed as oxides because here, oxygen is in combination with only one element.....
Peroxide Definition Peroxide is a compound containing the group O2. Peroxides are strong oxidizers and are used as industrial bleaches. When any peroxide is combined with an acid, one of the products is hydrogen peroxide. The simplest stable peroxide is hydrogen peroxide. Superoxides, dioxygenyls.....