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A hydrophobic (“water hating”) group on a molecule; usually hydrocarbon (composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms) in nature. These groups are more at home in a nonpolar (oil-like) environment.  

Proteins containing iron but no porphyrin groups (within which iron atoms are held) in their structure.  

Amino acids of proteins that can be made (biochemically synthesized within the body) by humans and certain other vertebrate animals from simple chemical precursors (in contrast to the essential amino acids). These amino acids are thus not required in the diet (of humans and those other vertebrates). The amino acids needed for protein synthesis within…

A metliodology of crop production in which the farmer avoids mechanical cultivation (i.e., only one pass over the field). The plant residue remaining on the field’s surface helps to control weeds and reduce soil erosion, but it also provides sites for insects to shelter and reproduce, leading to a need for increased insect control via…

The cycling of various forms of biologically available nitrogen through the plant, animal, and microbial worlds (kingdoms) as well as the atmosphere and geosphere. The process of decomposing certain waste products by bacterial action. The consists of the following: a. Decomposition of animal protein by bacteria, converting it into its amino acids. b. The amino…

A system of enzymes capable of reducing atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia in the presence of ATP.  

The oxidation (of ammonia) to nitrate by an organism. The conversion of ammonia nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen by two specific groups of bacteria, the nitrifying bacteria. The process by which the nitrogen of ammonia or other compounds is oxidized to nitric or nitrous acid or their salts (nitrates, nitrites). This process takes place continually in…

An enzyme that catalyzes the reaction which the body utilizes to make nitric oxide from L-arginine (via cleavage, off that molecule). The cofactor for that reaction is nicotine-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). An enzyme that synthesizes nitric oxide from arginine; present in the central nervous system, the lining of blood vessels, the heart, joints, some autonomic…

The reduction of nitrate to nitrite or ammonia by an organism. The ability of a culture to reduce nitrate to nitrite is a differential characteristic of some species of bacteria (particularly among Gram-negative groups) and is tested by growth on blood agar 10 mm from a superimposed strip of potassium nitrate paper; positive cultures exhibit…

A color reaction given by amino acids and peptides on heating with the chemical ninhydrin. The technique is widely used for the detection and quantitation (measurement) of amino acids and peptides. The concentration of amino acid in a solution (of hydrochloric acid) is proportional to the optical absorbance of the solution after heating it with…