What does small molecule mean?

Definitions for small molecule
smal·l mol·e·cule

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word small molecule.

Wikipedia

  1. Small molecule

    Within the fields of molecular biology and pharmacology, a small molecule is a low molecular weight (< 900 daltons) organic compound that may regulate a biological process, with a size on the order of 1 nm. Many drugs are small molecules. Larger structures such as nucleic acids and proteins, and many polysaccharides are not small molecules, although their constituent monomers (ribo- or deoxyribonucleotides, amino acids, and monosaccharides, respectively) are often considered small molecules. Small molecules may be used as research tools to probe biological function as well as leads in the development of new therapeutic agents. Some can inhibit a specific function of a protein or disrupt protein–protein interactions.Pharmacology usually restricts the term "small molecule" to molecules that bind specific biological macromolecules and act as an effector, altering the activity or function of the target. Small molecules can have a variety of biological functions or applications, serving as cell signaling molecules, drugs in medicine, pesticides in farming, and in many other roles. These compounds can be natural (such as secondary metabolites) or artificial (such as antiviral drugs); they may have a beneficial effect against a disease (such as drugs) or may be detrimental (such as teratogens and carcinogens).

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of small molecule in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of small molecule in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of small molecule in a Sentence

  1. David Gruber:

    The exciting part of this study is the description of an entirely new form of marine biofluorescence from sharks -- one that is based on brominated tryptophan-kynurenine small-molecule metabolites.

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"small molecule." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/small+molecule>.

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