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| 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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 04:21, 20 July 2004
A dimer is a molecule composed of two subunits 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.
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.