N-terminal
Chain's free amine
N-terminal refers to the end of a protein or peptide chain that has a free amino group, as opposed to the C-terminal end with its free carboxyl group.
Proteins are synthesized from N-terminus to C-terminus, and the convention extends to describing protein regions: the N-terminal domain, N-terminal sequencing.
Often shortened to N-terminus as a noun.
structure
Sulfur-bearing essential amino-acid
- peptide bondAmino acid connection
- residueMatter left behind
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
targeting
Protein sorting tag
- secretory pathwayCellular protein trafficking system
- endoplasmic reticulumCytoplasmic membrane network for synthesis
- translocationMovement to another place
- sortingArranging into sequence
processing
Tendency to split cleanly
- proteolysisEnzymatic protein breakdown
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- zymogenInactive enzyme precursor
- activationSetting into operation
synthesis
Protein synthesis site
- elongationIncrease in length
- reading frameTriplet-grouping starting point
methionine
Sulfur-bearing essential amino-acid
- peptide bondAmino acid connection
- residueMatter left behind
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
signal peptide
Protein sorting tag
- secretory pathwayCellular protein trafficking system
- endoplasmic reticulumCytoplasmic membrane network for synthesis
- translocationMovement to another place
acetylation
Acetyl group attachment
- methylationAttaching a methyl group
cleavage
Tendency to split cleanly
- proteolysisEnzymatic protein breakdown
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- zymogenInactive enzyme precursor
ribosome
Protein synthesis site
- elongationIncrease in length
- reading frameTriplet-grouping starting point