prosthetic group

(noun)

The non-protein component of a conjugated protein.

Related Terms

Examples of prosthetic group in the following topics:

  • Electron Transport Chain

    • FMN, which is derived from vitamin B2 (also called riboflavin), is one of several prosthetic groups or co-factors in the electron transport chain.
    • A prosthetic group is a non-protein molecule required for the activity of a protein.
    • Prosthetic groups can be organic or inorganic and are non-peptide molecules bound to a protein that facilitate its function.
    • Prosthetic groups include co-enzymes, which are the prosthetic groups of enzymes.
    • Cytochrome proteins have a prosthetic heme group.

  • Secondary & Tertiary Structure of Large Peptides and Proteins

    • The first hydrogen bond (from the N-terminal end) is from the carbonyl group of the alanine to the N-H group of the phenylalanine.
    • Turns occur chiefly on the protein surface, often incorporate polar and charged residues, and have been classified in three sub-groups.
    • These are called conjugated proteins, and the non-peptide components are referred to as prosthetic groups.
    • These include hydrophobic attraction of nonpolar side chains in contact regions of the subunits, electrostatic interactions between ionic groups of opposite charge: hydrogen bonds between polar groups; and disulfide bonds.
    • This folding pattern contains a pocket which strongly binds the heme group.

  • Chelating Agents

    • Virtually all metalloenzymes feature metals that are chelated, usually to peptides or cofactors and prosthetic groups.

  • Cofactors and Energy Transitions

    • They can also be classified depending on how tightly they bind to an enzyme, with loosely-bound cofactors termed coenzymes and tightly-bound cofactors termed prosthetic groups.
    • Many organic cofactors also contain a nucleotide, such as the electron carriers NAD and FAD, and coenzyme A, which carries acyl groups.
    • An exception to this wide distribution is a group of unique cofactors that evolved in methanogens, which are restricted to this group of archaea.
    • This common chemistry allows cells to use a small set of metabolic intermediates to carry chemical groups between different reactions.
    • These group-transfer intermediates are the loosely-bound organic cofactors, often called coenzymes.

  • Anticoagulants

    • A group of pharmaceuticals called anticoagulants can be used in vivo as a medication for thrombotic (clotting) disorders including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
    • These anticoagulants are used to treat patients with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), atrial fibrillation (AF), and mechanical prosthetic heart valves.

  • Arthroplasty

    • For example, a hip joint that is affected by osteoarthritis may be replaced entirely (total hip arthroplasty) with a prosthetic hip.

  • Clinical Advances in Bone Repair

    • The titanium and bone become an integrated unit that improves feeling and mobility when the prosthetic device is attached to the armature.

  • Hip Fracture

    • In some hip fractures, the doctor completely removes the head and neck of the femur and replaces it with a prosthetic implant.

  • Breast Augmentation and Reduction

    • The surgical implantation approach effects global breast augmentation using either a saline-filled or a silicone-filled prosthetic breast; and it might also consist of corrections effected with transplanted skin flaps.

  • Glycocalyx

    • The slime layer also allows bacteria to adhere to smooth surfaces such as prosthetic medical devices and catheters.