to deaminate
- verb
- /diˈæməˌneɪt/
- Specialized
- And if you do that, if if AC happens to deaminate in DNA, it gives you a uracil.
Examples
-
Wait, you said deaminating agents, those are used in genetic research.
-
Benzyl cyanide and some deaminating agents, too.
-
Scientists often use chemicals that deaminate amino acids in their experiments.
-
The process of deaminating certain compounds can lead to significant changes in biochemical pathways.
-
When proteins are heated, they may deaminate, altering their structure and function.
Synonyms
To remove an amino group from a molecule
Surface Forms
Morphology
deaminate = aminate (semi-transparent) = de + amino + ate
Formation follows the productive prefix 'de-' meaning 'remove' applied to the technical verb 'aminate'; 'aminate' (from the combining form 'amino' + '-ate') is specialized vocabulary not familiar to general B1 learners.
Etymology
Deaminate comes from the prefix de- meaning 'remove' and amine meaning 'amino group', like in amino acid. So, to deaminate is to 'take away' the amino part from a molecule, which is exactly what the word means in chemistry.