My name is Évelyne Martineau and I have been studying Pure and Applied Sciences for 1 year at Montmorency College. I want to work as a biochemist later and that's the reason why I created this glossary. So, if you're willing to become a biochemist or you just want to inform you on the subject, this glossary of 20 relevant words in biochemistry is a good reference to be aware of the definition of some words often use in science article.
acid
noun
A chemical substance with a pH under 7 that, when contracted, can damage clothing or skin on contact.
Example: The molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, that provides the programme for living creatures, is formed by a pair of right handed helices in parallel.
fr: acide
atom
noun
The smallest quantity or unit of a natural element that can exist alone.
Example: Within the atom, for example, the number of protons is electrically balanced by the number of electrons.
fr: atome
base
noun
A substance capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt and water, or (more broadly) of accepting or neutralizing hydrogen ions.
Example: Common bases include sodium hydroxide and ammonia.
fr: base
carbohydrate
noun
Any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars, starch, and cellulose. They contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1) and typically can be broken down to release energy in the animal body.
Example: In the case of plants, for example, the end product may be a species that is relatively drought resistant, a high carbohydrate yielder or one that is easy to harvest.
fr: glucide
cell
noun
The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. Microscopic organisms typically consist of a single cell, which is either eukaryotic or prokaryotic.
Example: However, when ER stress is persistent or strong, metazoan cells can induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
fr: cellule
chromosome
noun
A threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
Example: Normal eukaryotic cells contain two copies of any one chromosome.
fr: chromosome
cytoplasm
noun
In a cell, a gel-like substance that holds all of the cell's structures, except for the nucleus.
Example: The theory suggests that a stable residence was established by aerobic bacteria inside the cytoplasm of a primitive eukaryotic-like cell, providing the cell with energy in return for a protected environment and an easily obtainable source of nutrients.
fr: cytoplasme
DNA
noun
Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
Example: These properties are remarkable because previous reports showed that gold nanoparticles modified with a discrete number of short oligonucleotides were neither electrophoretically isolable nor capable of dna hybridization.
fr: ADN
enzyme
noun
A substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
Example: The inhibition of the enzyme by very low concentrations of lanthanum ion is probably the strongest known biological effect of rare earth salts.
fr: enzyme
gene
noun
The sequence of DNA or RNA that forms a unit inside a cell, which controls its development, appearance and functions, and which is inherited from an organism's parents.
Example: Subsequently, a gene discovery approach was undertaken to identify new gene targets through transcript profiling which may provide novel molecular prognostic markers as well as insights into the biology of PC.
fr: gène
ion
noun
An atom or molecule that is charged because it has lost or gained one or more electrons.
Example: Such metallo-supramolecular polymers potentially offer the functionality of the metal ion along with the processibility of a polymer.
fr: ion
lipid
noun
Any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids or their derivatives and are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.
Example: Once the main vesicle has formed those lipid remaining outside the main structure stayed outside and in the timescales were not observed to fuse with the main structure.
fr: lipide
metabolism
noun
The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.
Example: But basic to all such schemata is the supplying of energy reserves above those required for maintenance metabolism.
fr: métabolisme
mitochondrion
noun
An organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur. It has a double membrane, the inner layer being folded inward to form layers (cristae).
Example: This was best illustrated by Manton (Danks, 1978) who showed that a single mitochondrion in the unicellular flagellate Chromulina was replicated during interphase.
fr: mitochondrie
molecule
noun
A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.
Example: Each molecule moves, step by step, along a random path through the liquid.
fr: molécule
nucleotide
noun
A compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group. Nucleotides form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA.
Example: A microsomal de-iodinase with a pH optimum of around 8, and requiring reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide for activity, has been identified in the thyroid (Stanbury, 1957).
fr: nucléotide
protein
noun
Any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms, especially as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, collagen, etc., and as enzymes and antibodies.
Example: Two libraries of TEAS variant proteins were prepared; one library consisted of rational mutations surrounding the catalytic active site, and the second included stochastic mutations distributed throughout the protein.
fr: protéine
ribosome
noun
A minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins.
Example: The innermost part, the core or protoplast, this lowest water content layer contains DNA, ribosome, enzymes, calcium dipicolinate (DPA-Ca) and SASPs' pool which binds to and stabilizes the DNA.
fr: ribosome
tissue
noun
A collection of cells of the same origin that together carry out a specific function.
Example: This depends for its prima facie plausibility upon the assumption that there can, should or must be a correlation between the quantity of energy incident on nervous tissue and the intensity of experience.
fr: tissu
vitamin
noun
any of a group of organic compounds which are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are required in small quantities in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.
Example: An inadequate knowledge of what constitutes a "good diet", particularly regarding the essential protein, mineral and vitamin constituents of food, can also contribute to poor diet.
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