Dimer
A dimer is a macromolecular complex comprised of two identical sub-units bound together through identical binding sites[1]. Possibly the most common dimers found are the pyrimdine dimers caused by ultraviolet irradiation from the sun, it causes two neighbouring pyrimdine bases in the DNA nucleotide sequence to form bonds between each other thus causing a "distortion" in the DNA sequence and thus the DNA helix[2]. Another well studied dimer is the Cro repressor protein, a molecule formed by two identical protein sub-units, which is used to regulate genes in bacteria[3].
Types of dimer
Homodimer
A homodimer is a dimer consisting of two identical macromolecules,
Heterodimer
A heterodimer is a dimer consisting of two different macromolecules.
References
- ↑ B. Alberts, A Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts and P. Walter 2002, Molecular Biology of The Cell, 4th Edition New York, Garland Science Taylor and Francis Group P. 147
- ↑ B. Alberts, A Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts and P. Walter 2002, Molecular Biology of The Cell, 4th Edition New York, Garland Science Taylor and; Francis Group P. 269
- ↑ B. Alberts, A Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts and P. Walter 2002, Molecular Biology of The Cell, 4th Edition New York, Garland Science Taylor and Francis Group P. 147