amino acid sequence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Scientific, Academic
Quick answer
What does “amino acid sequence” mean?
The specific order of amino acids linked together in a protein or peptide chain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The specific order of amino acids linked together in a protein or peptide chain.
The primary structure of a protein, which is encoded by a gene and ultimately determines the protein's three-dimensional shape and function.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling of related words may differ (e.g., analyse/analyze).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low in general discourse but high in relevant scientific fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “amino acid sequence” in a Sentence
The amino acid sequence of [PROTEIN] was determined.Researchers analysed/analyzed the amino acid sequence.[GENE] encodes the amino acid sequence for [PROTEIN].A mutation changed the amino acid sequence.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amino acid sequence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They will sequence the amino acids to identify the protein.
- The gene was sequenced to deduce the amino acid sequence.
American English
- They sequenced the amino acids to characterize the polypeptide.
- The team will sequence the protein to confirm its amino acid sequence.
adjective
British English
- The sequencing data revealed an anomalous amino-acid-sequence region.
- Amino-acid-sequence homology was high between the two species.
American English
- The amino-acid-sequence alignment showed key differences.
- Amino-acid-sequence analysis is the first step.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in biotech/pharma contexts discussing drug targets or protein engineering.
Academic
Core term in life sciences papers, theses, and textbooks.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in popular science contexts.
Technical
Fundamental and frequent in biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and genetics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amino acid sequence”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amino acid sequence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amino acid sequence”
- Using 'amino acidic sequence'.
- Confusing it with 'DNA sequence'.
- Treating it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'much amino acid sequence').
- Misspelling 'amino' as 'ammino'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A DNA sequence is the order of nucleotides in a gene. An amino acid sequence is the order of amino acids in the protein that the gene codes for. The DNA sequence is translated into the amino acid sequence.
By definition, if the amino acid sequence is identical, it is the same protein. However, identical sequences can fold differently under different conditions, and similar functions can arise from different sequences.
Traditionally by Edman degradation or mass spectrometry. Today, it is often deduced computationally from the DNA sequence of the gene that codes for the protein.
It is the primary structure of a protein. This linear sequence determines how the chain folds into its functional 3D shape. Changes (mutations) in the sequence can lead to loss of function or diseases like sickle cell anaemia.
The specific order of amino acids linked together in a protein or peptide chain.
Amino acid sequence is usually formal, scientific, academic in register.
Amino acid sequence: in British English it is pronounced /əˌmiː.nəʊ ˈæs.ɪd ˈsiː.kwəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌmiː.noʊ ˈæs.ɪd ˈsiː.kwəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of AMINO ACID SEQUENCE as the precise 'sentence' (sequence) written in a 20-letter alphabet (the amino acids) that tells a protein how to fold and function.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TEXT or CODE (The sequence is read/decoded; it contains information). A BLUEPRINT or RECIPE (It specifies how to build the functional protein).
Practice
Quiz
What does an 'amino acid sequence' primarily refer to?