Biochemical and Medicinal Chemistry

The ionones are a series of closely related chemical substances that are part of a group of compounds known as rose ketones, which also includes damascones and damascenones. Ionones are aroma compounds found in a variety of essential oils, including rose oil.

Mepyramine, also known as pyrilamine, is a first generation antihistamine, targeting the H1 receptor.However, it rapidly permeates the brain often causing drowsiness. It also has anticholinergic properties.

Isoflurane is a halogenated ether used for inhalational anaesthesia. Together with enflurane and halothane, it replaced the flammable ethers used in the pioneer days of surgery.

Cryptoxanthin is a natural carotenoid pigment. It has been isolated from a variety of sources including the petals and flowers of plants in the genus Physalis.In a pure form, cryptoxanthin is a red crystalline solid with a metallic lustre.

Benzene is a natural constituent of crude oil, and is one of the most basic petrochemicals. Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon and the second [n]-annulene ([6]-annulene), a cyclic hydrocarbon with a continuous pi bond. It is also related to the functional group of aromatic hydrocarbons (arene) which is a generalized structure of benzene.

Chloroform is the organic compound with formula CHCl₃ . The colourless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid is a trihalomethane, and is considered somewhat hazardous. Several million tons are produced annually as a precursor to teflon and refrigerants.

Asparagine is one of the 20 most common natural amino acids on Earth. It has carboxamide as the side-chain's functional group. It is not an essential amino acid. Its codons are AAU and AAC.

Methylphenobarbital is a drug which is a barbiturate derivative. It is used as a sedative, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant. It is the N-methylated analogue of phenobarbital, and has similar indications, therapeutic value, and tolerability.

Heparin is widely used as an injectable anticoagulant, and has the highest negative charge density of any known biological molecule. It can also be used to form an inner anticoagulant surface on various experimental and medical devices such as test tubes and renal dialysis machines.

MreB is a protein found in bacteria that has been identified as a homologue of actin, as indicated by similarities in tertiary structure and conservation of active site peptide sequence.

Keratin refers to a family of fibrous structural proteins. Keratin is the key structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails.

Saccharopine is an intermediate in the metabolism of amino acid lysine. It is a precursor of lysine in the alpha-aminoadipate pathway which occurs in a few lower fungi, the higher fungi, and euglenids.

Butyric acid is found in butter, parmesan cheese, vomit, and as a product of anaerobic fermentation (including in the colon and as body odour). It has an unpleasant smell and acrid taste, with a sweetish aftertaste (similar to ether).

Fibrin is a fibrous protein involved in the clotting of blood and is non-globular. It is a fibrillar protein that is polymerised to form a mesh that forms a hemostatic plug or clot (in conjunction with platelets) over a wound site.

Sortase refers to a group of prokaryotic enzymes which catalyze the assembly of pilins into pili, and the anchoring of pili to the cell wall. They act as both proteases and transpeptidases.

Rabaptin is a key protein involved in regeneration of injured axons. Regeneration of injured axons at neuromuscular junctions is regulated by extra-cellular protein factors that promote neurite outgrowth.

Formiminoglutamic acid (FIGLU) is an intermediate in the metabolism of histidine. The FIGLU test is used to identify deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency or liver disease.

Osteonectin is a glycoprotein in the bone that binds sodium. It is secreted by osteoblasts during bone formation, initiating mineralization and promoting mineral crystal formation. Osteonectin also shows affinity for collagen in addition to bone mineral calcium.

Glutamic acid is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids and its codons are GAA and GAG. It is a non-essential amino acid. It is an important neurotransmitter that plays a key role in long-term potentiation and is important for learning and memory.

Glycocyamine is a metabolite of glycine in which the amino group has been converted into a guanidine. It is a direct precursor of creatine and is used as a supplement. However, the metabolism of creatine from glycocyamine in the liver causes a depletion of methyl groups.

An uncoupling protein is a mitochondrial inner membrane protein that can dissipate the proton gradient before it can be used to provide the energy for oxidative phosphorylation.

Zeaxanthin is one of the two primary xanthophyll carotenoids contained within the retina of the eye. Within the central macula, zeaxanthin is the dominant component, whereas in the peripheral retina, lutein predominates.

Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants that constitutes approximately 0.6-3.0% of the dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots and accumulation occurring in the leaves. It functions as an antiherbivore chemical with particular specificity to insects.

Pentobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate that was first synthesized in 1928. Pentobarbital is available as both a free acid and a sodium salt, the former of which is only slightly soluble in water and ethanol.

Trichloroethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent. It is a clear non-flammable liquid with a sweet smell.It is used as a volatile anesthetic and as an inhaled obstetrical analgesic in millions of patients.