zymogen

American

[zahy-muh-juhn, -jen] / ˈzaɪ mə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn /

noun

Biochemistry.

any of various enzyme precursor molecules that may change into an enzyme as a result of catalytic change.

zymogen British

/ ˈzaɪməʊˌdʒɛn /

noun

biochem any of a group of compounds that are inactive precursors of enzymes and are activated by a kinase

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of zymogen

< German (1875); see zymo-, -gen

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When in this stage, the compound is known as "proenzyme," or "zymogen."

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023