Tetrameric protein

A Tetrameric protein (pronunciation: te-tra-me-ric pro-tein) is a protein that is assembled from four separate peptide chains, also known as subunits. These subunits come together to form a single functional protein complex.

Etymology

The term "Tetrameric protein" is derived from the Greek word "tetra", meaning four, and the English word "mer", a part of something. The term "protein" comes from the Greek "proteios", meaning primary or of first importance.

Structure

Tetrameric proteins can be homotetrameric, where all subunits are identical, or heterotetrameric, where the subunits are different. The subunits in a tetrameric protein are typically held together by non-covalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and van der Waals forces.

Function

Tetrameric proteins have a wide range of functions in the body. They can act as enzymes, transport proteins, antibodies, and more. The specific function of a tetrameric protein depends on the type and arrangement of its subunits.

Examples

Examples of tetrameric proteins include hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues, and ion channels, which allow ions to pass through the cell membrane.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Tetrameric protein
Wikipedia's article - Tetrameric protein

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Tetrameric protein