amphipathic

English

Etymology

amphi- + -pathic

Adjective

amphipathic (not comparable)

  1. (chemistry) Describing a molecule, such as a detergent, which has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.
  2. (biochemistry) Of the surface(s) on a protein, particularly an alpha helix, where one surface of the alpha helix has hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite face has hydrophobic (or lipophilic) amino acids.

Synonyms

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See also

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