Zymogens
Each list begins with basic conceptual vocabulary you need to know for MCAT questions and proceeds to advanced terms that might appear in context in MCAT passages. The terms are links to Wikipedia articles.
Zymogen
A zymogen is an inactive precursor of an enzyme that requires cleavage for it to become an active enzyme.
A zymogen is an inactive precursor of an enzyme that requires cleavage for it to become an active enzyme.
Trypsinogen
Trypsinogen is the precursor form of trypsin, a digestive enzyme.
Trypsinogen is the precursor form of trypsin, a digestive enzyme.
Proteolysis
Proteolysis is the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or amino acids.
Proteolysis is the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or amino acids.
Pepsinogen
Pepsin is expressed as a zymogen called pepsinogen, whose primary structure has an additional 44 amino acids compared to the active enzyme.
Pepsin is expressed as a zymogen called pepsinogen, whose primary structure has an additional 44 amino acids compared to the active enzyme.
Enteropeptidase
Enteropeptidase converts trypsinogen into its active form trypsin, resulting in the subsequent activation of pancreatic digestive enzymes.
Enteropeptidase converts trypsinogen into its active form trypsin, resulting in the subsequent activation of pancreatic digestive enzymes.
Biochemical cascade
A biochemical cascade is a series of chemical reactions that occur within a biological cell in which one event triggers the next, in a linear fashion.
A biochemical cascade is a series of chemical reactions that occur within a biological cell in which one event triggers the next, in a linear fashion.
Autocatalytic
A single chemical reaction is said to be autocatalytic if one of the reaction products is also a catalyst for the same or a coupled reaction.
A single chemical reaction is said to be autocatalytic if one of the reaction products is also a catalyst for the same or a coupled reaction.
Thrombin
Thrombin in acts as a serine protease that converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble strands of fibrin.
Thrombin in acts as a serine protease that converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble strands of fibrin.
Caspases
Caspases are a family of protease enzymes playing essential roles in programmed cell death.
Caspases are a family of protease enzymes playing essential roles in programmed cell death.
Factor X
Factor X, also known as Stuart–Prower factor, is an enzyme of the coagulation cascade that acts by cleaving prothrombin to yield the active thrombin.
Factor X, also known as Stuart–Prower factor, is an enzyme of the coagulation cascade that acts by cleaving prothrombin to yield the active thrombin.
Serpins
Serpins are a superfamily of proteins with protease inhibition activity, notable for their unusual mechanism of action, in which they irreversibly inhibit their target by undergoing a large conformational change to disrupt its active site.
Serpins are a superfamily of proteins with protease inhibition activity, notable for their unusual mechanism of action, in which they irreversibly inhibit their target by undergoing a large conformational change to disrupt its active site.