ZYMOGEN

proenzyme, zymogen

(noun) any of a group of compounds that are inactive precursors of enzymes and require some change (such as the hydrolysis of a fragment that masks an active enzyme) to become active

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

zymogen (plural zymogens)

(biochemistry) A proenzyme, or enzyme precursor, which requires a biochemical change (i.e. hydrolysis) to become an active form of the enzyme.

Source: Wiktionary


Zym"o*gen, n. Etym: [Zyme + -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Definition: A mother substance, or antecedent, of an enzyme or chemical ferment; -- applied to such substances as, not being themselves actual ferments, may by internal changes give rise to a ferment. The pancreas contains but little ready-made ferment, though there is present in it a body, zymogen, which gives birth to the ferment. Foster.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

21 May 2025

SOMETIME

(adverb) at some indefinite or unstated time; “let’s get together sometime”; “everything has to end sometime”; “It was to be printed sometime later”


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Coffee Trivia

Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world. Each year Brazil exports more than 44 million bags of coffee. Vietnam follows at exporting over 27 million bags each year.

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