A type of
enzyme that causes the transfer of a
chemical substance called an amino group from one
molecule to another. Transaminases are involved in many processes in the body, such as making amino acids.
chemical (KEH-mih-kul)
A substance made up of elements, such as hydrogen or sodium.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)enzyme (EN-zime)
A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)molecule (MAH-leh-kyool)
The smallest particle of a substance that has all of the physical and chemical properties of that substance. Molecules are made up of one or more atoms. If they contain more than one atom, the atoms can be the same (an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or different (a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). Biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, can be made up of many thousands of atoms.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
