Definition
noun
(biochemistry) An equilibrium constant for dissociation
(biochemistry) An abbreviation for kilodalton, also kDa
(pathology) An abbreviation for: Kawasaki disease (an inflammatory disease) and Kienböck’s disease (an avascular disease characterized by necrosis in the lunate bone of the wrist)
Supplement
In biochemistry, KD refers to the dissociation constant. It is a type of equilibrium constant that measures the propensity of the dissociation of a complex molecule into its subcomponents. It describes how tightly a ligand binds to a particular protein, or at which point the salt dissociates into its component ions. The mathematical definition of dissociation constant is as follows:
KD = <a href=”AxBy“>/ AxBy, where and B are the concentratons of A and B subunits and AxBy is the concentration of the complex AxBy.
kD may also refer to the symbol used for unit, kilodalton (also, kDa). One kilodalton is equivalent to 1,000 daltons. Dalton is a measure of the weight of a hydrogen atom.
KD is also the abbreviation for certain diseases. Kawasaki disease, for instance, is abbreviated as KD. It is an inflammatory disease causing vasculitis and sometimes aneurysm in individuals suffering from it. It is characterized by inflamed blood vessels throughout the body.
Kienböck’s disease, also abbreviated as KD, is a disorder of the wrist. It is characterized by an avascular necrosis in the lunate bone of the wrist.
Dictionary > Kd
You will also like...
Animal Water Regulation
Animals adapt to their environment in aspects of anatomy, physiology, and behavior. This tutorial will help you understa..
Plant Water Regulation
Plants need to regulate water in order to stay upright and structurally stable. Find out the different evolutionary adap..
The Water Cycle
The water cycle (also referred to as the hydrological cycle) is a system of continuous transfer of water from the air, s..
Adaptation Tutorial
Adaptation, in biology and ecology, refers to the process or trait through which organisms or the populations in a habit..
Plant Biology
Plantlife can be studied at a variety of levels, from the molecular, genetic and biochemical level through organelles, c..
The Origins of Life
This tutorial digs into the past to investigate the origins of life. The section is split into geological periods in the..