biomolecule
Life's building block
A biomolecule is any molecule produced by or found in living organisms—proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and countless smaller compounds.
The term distinguishes molecules central to biological processes from synthetic or inorganic substances: Researchers studied how the biomolecule interacts with cell membranes.
Folded amino chain
- nucleic acidNucleotide chain carrying heredity
- lipidWater-insoluble organic compound
- carbohydrateSugar or starch compound
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
amino acid · nucleotide · peptide · polysaccharide · fatty acid · steroid · hormone · vitamin
Large repeated-unit molecule
- monomerChain-forming molecule
- double helixTwo intertwined spirals
- conformationStructural form or arrangement
- foldingBending something over itself
Protein synthesis site
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
- translationConverting between languages
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- gene expressionDNA to functional product
polymerization · anabolism · synthase · polymerase · ligase · genetic code · codon · template
Accelerating reactions without consumption
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
- transportMoving things between places
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
regulation · recognition · storage · immunity · energy transfer · receptor · substrate · inhibitor
Study of entire genetic sequences
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- electrophoresisField-driven particle separation
- crystallographyStudy of atomic lattices
sequencing · purification · assay · biomarker · bioinformatics · mass spectrometry
protein
Folded amino chain
- nucleic acidNucleotide chain carrying heredity
- lipidWater-insoluble organic compound
- carbohydrateSugar or starch compound
enzyme · amino acid · nucleotide · peptide · polysaccharide · fatty acid · steroid · hormone · vitamin · antibody
polymer
Large repeated-unit molecule
- monomerChain-forming molecule
- double helixTwo intertwined spirals
- conformationStructural form or arrangement
folding · chirality · active site · binding site · peptide bond
ribosome
Protein synthesis site
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
- translationConverting between languages
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
gene expression · polymerization · anabolism · synthase · polymerase · ligase · genetic code · codon · template · precursor
catalysis
Accelerating reactions without consumption
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
- transportMoving things between places
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
homeostasis · regulation · recognition · storage · immunity · energy transfer · receptor · substrate · inhibitor · activation
genomics
Study of entire genetic sequences
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- electrophoresisField-driven particle separation
crystallography · sequencing · purification · assay · biomarker · bioinformatics · mass spectrometry
biomoleculesynthetic compound
Artificially produced chemical combination
petrochemical · industrial chemical · plastic · synthetic drug · synthetic chemical