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| ], or common table sugar, is composed of glucose and fructose.]] | ], or common table sugar, is composed of glucose and fructose.]] | ||
| In ], a '''dimer''' is a ] composed of two subunits linked together. It is a special case of a ]. Among the most common dimers are certain types of ]; ], for example, is a dimer of a ] molecule and a ] molecule. | In ], a '''dimer''' is a ] composed of two similar subunits or monomers linked together. It is a special case of a ]. Among the most common dimers are certain types of ]; ], for example, is a dimer of a ] molecule and a ] molecule. | ||
| A '''physical dimer''' is a term that designates the case where intermolecular interaction brings two identical molecules closer together than other molecules. There is no chemical bonds between the physical dimer molecules. | A '''physical dimer''' is a term that designates the case where intermolecular interaction brings two identical molecules closer together than other molecules. There is no chemical bonds between the physical dimer molecules. | ||
Revision as of 21:20, 23 August 2005
In chemistry, a dimer is a molecule composed of two similar subunits or monomers linked together. It is a special case of a polymer. Among the most common dimers are certain types of sugar; sucrose, for example, is a dimer of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule.
A physical dimer is a term that designates the case where intermolecular interaction brings two identical molecules closer together than other molecules. There is no chemical bonds between the physical dimer molecules.
In biology, a dimer is a protein complex made up of two subunits. In a homodimer the two subunits are identical, and in a heterodimer they differ (though they are often still very similar in structure). The subunits do not need to be covalently linked, and usually aren't.