Acetylizable

/ə.ˌsɛt.ə.laɪ.zə.bəl/ adjective

Definition

Capable of being acetylated, meaning an acetyl group can be chemically added to the molecule.

Etymology

From acetylize (to acetylate) + -able (capable of). The -ize verb form came from acetyl in the late 1800s as chemists needed verbs for chemical processes.

Kelly Says

Many natural biological molecules are acetylizable—for instance, proteins can have acetyl groups added to their amino acids, and this modification is actually how cells control genes by changing which DNA is readable!

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