Vocabulary

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Cyanobacteria- predominantly photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms containing a blue pigment in addition to chlorophyll; occur singly or in colonies in diverse habitats; important as phytoplankton

Dimer- a complex of two proteins (monomer = 1 protein, trimer = 3 proteins, etc.)

Electrostatic Interactions - charge to charge interaction in a molecule

Eukaryotes - organisms whose cells contain their genetic material inside a nucleus

Hydrogen Bonding - chemical bond which arises from the attraction between the slight positive charge on a hydrogen atom and a slight negative charge on a nearby fluorine, oxygen or nitrogen atom. Weak bonds, but found in great quantities in proteins, nucleic acids, and other biological macromolecules.

Hydrophobic Interactions - molecules and amino acid side chains, which are mainly hydrocarbons have a lower energy when they are clustered together than when they are distributed through and aqueous solution. Because of their attraction for one another and their reluctance to mix with water they are called “hydrophobic”

In vivo- a living cell

In vitro- isolated components of a cell

Kinase - Any of several enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from one molecule to another

NMR- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, an analytical method that can detect subatomic and structural information of molecules by measuring the absorption of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation by nuclei under the influence of a magnetic field.

Prokaryotes - organisms whose genetic material is not contained within a nucleus