ISOELECTRIC POINT Meaning and
Definition
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The isoelectric point, commonly abbreviated as pI, refers to the pH value at which a particular molecule or substance carries no net electrical charge. It is a crucial property for analyzing the behavior and characteristics of various biomolecules, particularly proteins and amino acids. The term "isoelectric" indicates that the substance becomes electrically neutral at this specific pH.
When a substance such as a protein has a pH below its isoelectric point, it carries a net positive charge due to an excess of positively charged amino acids or groups (protons). Conversely, at a pH above its isoelectric point, the substance carries a net negative charge resulting from an excess of negatively charged amino acids or groups (deprotonated). The isoelectric point acts as a crucial reference point for understanding the electrophoretic mobility, solubility, and behavior of molecules in various biological and chemical contexts.
Determining the isoelectric point involves finding the pH at which the molecule has equal concentrations of positively and negatively charged species. This can be achieved experimentally through techniques such as isoelectric focusing or capillary electrophoresis, or through theoretical calculations that consider the pKa values of the individual ionizable groups within the molecule.
The isoelectric point is of great significance in numerous scientific disciplines, including biochemistry, biology, and drug formulation, as it governs the behavior, stability, and interactions of biomolecules in different environments and under varying pH conditions.
Common Misspellings for ISOELECTRIC POINT
- usoelectric point
- jsoelectric point
- ksoelectric point
- osoelectric point
- 9soelectric point
- 8soelectric point
- iaoelectric point
- izoelectric point
- ixoelectric point
- idoelectric point
- ieoelectric point
- iwoelectric point
- isielectric point
- iskelectric point
- islelectric point
- ispelectric point
- is0electric point
- is9electric point
- isowlectric point
- isoslectric point
Etymology of ISOELECTRIC POINT
The word "isoelectric" is derived from two Greek roots: "iso" meaning equal, and "electric" referring to electricity. In chemistry, the term "isoelectric" is used to describe a state in which a molecule or particle has no net electrical charge.
The word "point" in this term refers to a specific value or position. Therefore, the "isoelectric point" in chemistry refers to the pH at which an amino acid, peptide, or protein has no net electric charge and becomes neutral. This term is commonly used in biochemistry and protein science.
Idioms with the word ISOELECTRIC POINT
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isoelectric point
The isoelectric point refers to the pH at which a molecule or a substance has zero net electrical charge, meaning it is neutral (neither positively nor negatively charged). It is a characteristic property unique to each molecule or substance and is often used in fields such as chemistry and biochemistry to determine its behavior in various environments.
