| beta-oxidation | <biochemistry> The oxidative breakdown of fatty acids into acetyl-coenzyme A by repeated oxidation at the beta-carbon atom. Oxidation of the beta-carbon (carbon 3) of a fatty acid causes the formation of the beta-keto (beta-oxo) acid analog. This is of importance in fatty acid catabolism, the entire pathway for the catabolism of saturated fatty acids containing an even number of carbon atoms. Beta-oxidation is a part of this pathway and acetyl-CoA is a major product of this pathway. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| beta-oxidation-condensation theory | <biochemistry> That the two carbon fragments split from the fatty acid molecule by beta-oxidation are converted to acetic acid and then condensed to acetoacetic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biological oxidation | Decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms. (05 Dec 1998) |
| Meyerhof oxidation quotient | <biochemistry> An index for the effect of oxygen on glycolysis and on fermentation (i.e., on the Pasteur effect); equal to the rate of anaerobic fermentation minus the rate of aerobic respiration divided by the rate of oxygen uptake. (21 Jun 2000) |
| pyruvate oxidation factor | <biochemistry> 1,2 dithiolane 3 valeric acid. Regarded as a coenzyme in the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex of the citric acid cycle. Involved generally in oxidative decarboxylations of _ keto acids. A growth factor for some organisms. (18 Nov 1997) |
| omega-oxidation | Oxidation at the carbon atom farthest removed (ω-carbon) from the carboxyl group (carbon 1); thus, in this pathway, a dicarboxylic acid is formed; an important pathway in the degradation of prostaglandins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| omega-oxidation theory | That the oxidation of fatty acids commences at the CH3 group, i.e., the terminal or omega-group; beta-oxidation then proceeds at both ends of the fatty acid chain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxidation | <biochemistry> The process whereby fatty acids are degraded in steps, losing 2 carbons as (acetyl) CoA. Involves CoA ester formation, desaturation, hydroxylation and oxidation before each cleavage. (18 Nov 1997) |
| oxidation-fermentation test | <investigation> A test to to determine whether a given bacterial strain has an oxidative or fermentativetype of metabolism by seeing what it doesto a carbohydrate substrate. (09 Oct 1997) |
| oxidation number | The number of electrons necessary to restore an atom in a combined state to its elemental form. (09 Oct 1997) |
| oxidation pond | A pond that contains partially treated wastewater which is then left to allow the growth of algae and bacteria which decompose therest of the waste. (09 Oct 1997) |
| terminal oxidation | <biochemistry> The last oxidation step in a catabolic pathway. Synonym: terminal oxidation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| end oxidation | <biochemistry> The last oxidation step in a catabolic pathway. Synonym: terminal oxidation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fatty acid oxidation cycle | A series of reactions involving acyl-coenzyme A compounds, whereby these undergo beta oxidation and thioclastic cleavage, with the formation of acetyl-coenzyme A; the major pathway of fatty acid catabolism in living tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acetyl reduction assay | <investigation> A technique for measuring the nitrogen fixation activity in photosynthetic organisms. It uses a flame ionisation detector and a gas chromatography apparatus to determine the reduction of acetylene to ethylene by the enzyme nitrogenase. (06 May 1997) |