beta-galactosidase
Milk sugar enzyme
Beta-galactosidase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose into simpler sugars.
It appears constantly in molecular biology because the gene encoding it (*lacZ*) serves as a reporter—when active, it produces a blue color that makes gene expression visible.
The enzyme also has industrial applications in lactose-free dairy products.
Enzyme cleaving via water
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- catalysisAccelerating reactions without consumption
active site · specificity · hydrolysis · saccharide · disaccharide · monosaccharide · kinetics · Michaelis-Menten
Bacterial lactose metabolism genes
- cloningMaking identical copies
- plasmidSelf-replicating DNA circle
- transformationThorough change in form
- E. coliIntestinal rod-shaped bacterium
gene expression · promoter · inducer · repressor · transcription · recombinant DNA · transgene
Measuring light wavelength absorption
- absorbanceLight uptake measurement
- quantificationExpressing something numerically
- cell lysisCell membrane destruction
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
Lack of something needed
- malabsorptionFailed intestinal nutrient uptake
- supplementSomething added to complete
- probioticHealthful live microorganism supplement
- congenital disorderCondition present at birth
Vessel for growing organisms
- food industryCommercial edible goods sector
- thermophilicRequiring high temperatures
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- cheese productionManufacturing curdled milk products
hydrolase
Enzyme cleaving via water
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
catalysis · active site · specificity · hydrolysis · saccharide · disaccharide · monosaccharide · kinetics · Michaelis-Menten · turnover
lac operon
Bacterial lactose metabolism genes
- cloningMaking identical copies
- plasmidSelf-replicating DNA circle
- transformationThorough change in form
E. coli · gene expression · promoter · inducer · repressor · transcription · recombinant DNA · transgene
spectrophotometry
Measuring light wavelength absorption
- absorbanceLight uptake measurement
- quantificationExpressing something numerically
- cell lysisCell membrane destruction
deficiency
Lack of something needed
- malabsorptionFailed intestinal nutrient uptake
- supplementSomething added to complete
- probioticHealthful live microorganism supplement
bioreactor
Vessel for growing organisms
- food industryCommercial edible goods sector
- thermophilicRequiring high temperatures
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- agingaging process, aging body, biological age, aging workforce, aging parents
- galactosidases
- glycosidasesglycoside hydrolase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, maltase, sucrase
- Lysosomal Enzymescathepsin K, alpha-glucosidase
- biolabelingradiolabeling, RFP, CFP, APEX, barcoding
- Bioluminescent Moleculesaequorin