polyene
8.9
A substance made of carbon atoms with several double bonds often used to treat infections caused by fungus
- noun
- /ˈpɒliˌiːn/
- Specialized
:
polieno
- Amphotericin is a polyene macrolide that binds preferentially to ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane; it also binds human cholesterol.
Examples
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Amphotericin is a polyene used in antifungal treatments due to its unique structure.
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Scientists studied a new polyene to understand its effects on cell membranes.
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The polyene compounds are known for their ability to effectively target fungal infections.
How Unsaturated
Surface Forms
Morphology
polyene = poly + ene
The compound is formed from poly- and the chemistry element ene, but it remains a specialized technical label rather than an everyday transparent word.
Etymology
Polyene as a noun also joins poly- 'many' and -ene 'double bond'. So a polyene is a chemical compound with many double bonds, which is why some antifungal drugs are called polyenes.
