Micro glossary terms

an arthropodborne virus, carried by mosquitoes and ticks in most cases

an organism capable of synthesizing its own organic nutrients

to speed up a reaction; enzymes catalyze reactions without becoming a part of the reaction or products

deoxyribonucleic acid

a chemical substance, organic or inorganic (mineral), that is dissociated in the body fluids, including the blood. These atoms or molecules have a charge, hence, "electrolytes". Also called ions; ex: sodium (Na+), magnesium (MG2+), nitrate (NO3-).

a catabolic, energy-yielding, largely anaerobic process in which pyruvic acid is broken down into certain end products, including carbon dioxide, ethanol, and lactic acid.

an organism requiring consumption or absorption of organic compounds of nutrition and survival.

an enzyme that influences the formation of a bond between two molecules

lipopolysaccharide component of the cell wall of bacteria; forms a toxic component (endotoxin) in Gram-negative bacteria

chemical destruction or dissolution

a single substance composed of non-repeated units. Such a substance is capable of binding with another similar substance, thus forming a dimer (di, two); or with two other similar substances (trimer), and so on (pentamer, polymer).

a group of genes that function to turn on or turn off the synthesis of a protein, usually an enzyme; includes structural genes that initiate protein synthesis, operator genes that regulate the activity of structural genes, and regulator genes that control the activity of structural genes, and regulator genes that control the activity of operator genes. There are enzyme induction operons and enzyme repression operons.

a structure of a substance consisting of several monomers

an enzyme that breaks down protein into smaller units (polypeptides).

the disintegration of protein. Usually accomplished by proteolytic enzymes.

the salt of pyruvic acid. pyruvate is the anionic or negatively charged form of pyruvic acid. The terms pyruvate and pyruvic acid are generally used interchangeably

a duplication or repetition

a storage site for infection; refers to a host of an infections microorganism that does not experience the signs and symptoms of the disease. Such a host is called a carrier. A carrier, hosting a reservoir of infectious microorganisms, can transmit the pathogen to another person or animal.

ribonucleic acid

a genus of Gram-positive cocci that are anaerobic, non-motile, and non-sporeformers. Arranged into 4 groups, one of which includes the beta-hemolytic pathogenic species.

a pattern; a strand of DNA or RNA that provides the sequence of nucleotides for a strand of DNA or RNA being synthesized.

synthesis of RNA from DNA

the synthesis of protein from messenger RNA