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Glite Dictionary
microsome

microsome

9.5
A tiny part of a cell where the cell makes proteins from messenger RNA
  • noun
  • /ˈmaɪkrəˌsoʊm/
  • Specialized
: microsoma
  • Researchers isolated microsomes from the cells to study their role in drug metabolism.

Examples

  • Inhibitors of cytochrome P450 1A were found to suppress the hydroxylation of glutamate in experiments with human liver microsomes.

    Academic text (2000)

  • As we predicted, aromatase activity in male telencephalic microsomes was high and similar to that seen in the female ovary.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The scientist observed that protein synthesis in microsomes was significantly enhanced when exposed to certain stimuli.

  • The analysis of microsomes revealed important information about the cells' responsiveness to various treatments.

Synonyms

ribosome
vsmicrosome
  • Specialized
2 7.5

A small cell structure that makes proteins from messenger RNA

is an isolated tiny granule produced during cell fractionation rather than a natural organelle

Surface Forms

microsome singular
microsomes plural

Morphology

microsome = micro + some

The word is built from the scientific combining form micro- plus some, so the literal sense 'small body' is partly recoverable, but the specialized cell-biology meaning is not fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

Microsome comes from the Greek parts micro- meaning 'small' and -soma meaning 'body', so it literally means a 'small body'. That's why a microsome is a tiny body or granule in a cell where proteins are made.