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Acetohydroxyacid Synthase
In plants, AHAS performs the first step in synthesis of three essential amino acids, making it an effective target for herbicides.
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Adrenergic Receptors
Adrenaline stimulates a G-protein-coupled receptor, priming us for action
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Alcohol Dehydrogenase
Alcohol dehydrogenase detoxifies the ethanol we drink
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Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids like testosterone are among the most common performance enhancing drugs
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Angiotensin and Blood Pressure
Many medications for controlling high blood pressure inhibit the action of the peptide hormone angiotensin.
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ATP Synthase
ATP synthase links two rotary motors to generate ATP
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Calcium Pump
Atomic structures have captured the calcium pump in action
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Carbonic Anhydrase
Carbonic anhydrase solubilizes carbon dioxide gas so we can breathe it out
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Catalase
Catalase protects us from dangerous reactive oxidizing molecules
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Circadian Clock Proteins
Circadian clock proteins measure time in our cells
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Citric Acid Cycle
Eight enzymes form a cyclic pathway for energy production and biosynthesis
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Complex I
A proton-pumping protein complex performs the first step of the respiratory electron transport chain
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Cytochrome c Oxidase
Cytochrome oxidase extracts energy from food using oxygen
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Estrogen Receptor
Estrogen binds to receptors in the nucleus and affects key genes in development
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Fatty Acid Synthase
Fatty acids are constructed in many sequential steps by a large protein complex
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Glycogen Phosphorylase
Glycogen phosphorylase releases sugar from its cellular storehouse
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Glycolytic Enzymes
The ten enzymes of glycolysis break down sugar in our diet
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Growth Hormone
Growth hormone brings together two copies of its cellular receptor
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Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin uses a change in shape to increase the efficiency of oxygen transport
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factors
HIF-α is a molecular switch that responds to changing oxygen levels.
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Lactate Dehydrogenase
Our cells temporarily build lactate when supplies of oxygen are low
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Lead Poisoning
Lead ions poison proteins throughout the body, blocking their normal function.
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Leptin
Problems with the appetite-controlling hormone leptin can lead to obesity
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Monellin
Monellin and other supersweet proteins trick our taste receptors.
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Myosin
Molecular motors fueled by ATP power the contraction of muscles
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Nicotine, Cancer, and Addiction
Nicotine causes addiction by interacting with receptors in the brain
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Odorant Receptors
Our sense of smell relies on odorant receptors that recognize specific scents.
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Opioid Receptors
Morphine and other opioid drugs bind to receptors in the nervous system, controlling pain
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Oxidosqualene Cyclase
Oxidosqualine cyclase forms the unusual fused rings of cholesterol molecules
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Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex
A huge molecular complex links three sequential reactions for energy production
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Respiratory Supercomplex
In our mitochondria, three electron-transport complexes assemble into a supercomplex.
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Rhodopsin
In our eyes, rhodopsin uses the molecule retinal to see light
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S-Nitrosylated Hemoglobin
Nitric oxide is attached to a conserved cysteine in hemoglobin and then released to control the flow of blood.
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Serotonin Receptor
Serotonin receptors control mood, emotion, and many other behaviors, and are targets for many important drugs
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Superoxide Dismutase
Superoxide dismutase protects us from dangerously reactive forms of oxygen
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Vitamin D Receptor
Vitamin D helps regulate the use of calcium throughout the body
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Vitamins
Vitamins are essential molecular tools that are obtained through a healthy diet.
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