Glossary
Allosterically: being a change in the shape and activity of a
protein (such as an enzyme) that results from combination with another
substance at a point other than the chemically active site
Anti-oxidant: substances that protect the body by neutralizing
unstable molecules
Apoptosis: a form of programmed cell death that occurs in
multicellular organisms
Autophagy response: the natural, conserved degradation of the
cell that removes unnecessary or dysfunctional components through a
lysosome-dependent regulated mechanism
Autophosphorylation: the phosphorylation by a protein of one or
more of its own amino acid residues
Biogenesis: the synthesis of substances by living organisms
Chaperones: intracellular proteins that assist in the correct
folding of other proteins by means of hydrophobic surfaces that
recognize and bind to exposed hydrophobic surfaces on misfolded proteins
Endogenous: Originating or produced within an organism, tissue,
or cell
Homeostasis: state of steady internal, physical, and chemical
conditions maintained by living systems
Isoforms: is a member of a set of highly similar proteins that
originate from a single gene or gene family and are the result of
genetic differences
Oligomerization: the process of converting a monomer or a
mixture of monomers into an oligomer which is a molecule that consists
of a few repeating units.
Oxidative stress: an imbalance between the systemic
manifestation of reactive oxygen species and a biological system’s
ability
Post-translational modifications: the covalent and generally
enzymatic modification of proteins following protein biosynthesis
Protozoan: a group of single-celled eukaryotes also known as
“one-celled animals” because their animal-like behaviors, such as
motility and predation, and lack a cell wall, either free-living or
parasitic that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or
organic tissues and debris
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): chemically reactive chemical
species containing oxygen
Transcription factors: a protein that controls the rate of
transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA, by
binding to a specific DNA sequence
Translation: the process in which ribosomes in the cytoplasm or
endoplasmic reticulum synthesize proteins after the process of
transcription of DNA to RNA in the cell’s nucleus
Translocation: the movement of substances from one part to
another