Ki

Definition
(genetics) Gene knock-in, as in genetic engineering method
(chemistry) A symbol for the dissociation constant of an inhibitor
(chemistry) The measure of bond-tightness between an enzyme and a corresponding enzyme inhibitor
(chemistry) The measure of ligand binding affinity
(chemistry) Potassium iodide
Supplement
In genetics and molecular biology, Ki stands for gene knock-in, or simply knock-in. A knock-in pertains to the genetic engineering method involving the insertion of a protein coding cDNA sequence at a particular locus in the chromosome of an organism, typically a laboratory mouse model.1
In chemistry, Ki is a symbol for the dissociation constant. By definition, the dissociation constant is a mathematical constant that describes the tendency of a large molecule to dissociate reversibly into smaller components. It is the equilibrium constant in a dissociation reaction. It is a type of equilibrium constant that specifically involves the measure of the propensity of dissociation of a complex molecule into its subcomponents. An example of its application is to describe how tightly a ligand binds to a particular protein. It is also referred to as the equilibrium dissociation constant or the ionization constant.
Reference(s):

1 Gibson, Greg (2009). A Primer Of Genome Science 3rd ed. Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer. pp. 301–302. ISBN 978-0-87893-236-8.


You will also like...

Transpiration
Water in Plants

The movement of molecules (specifically, water and solutes) is vital to the understanding of plant processes. This tuto..

3D rendering of an antibody
Passive and Active Types of Immunity

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell capable of producing a specific immune response to unique antigens. In thi..

green leaf - close up view
Leaves

Leaves are the major photosynthetic organ of a plant. Apart from that, they are also crucial to water movement. In this ..

New Zealand Fauna
New Zealand’s Unique Fauna

Meet some of New Zealand's unique fauna, including endemic insects, frogs, reptiles, birds, and mammals, and investigate..

An artist depiction of a Precambrian multicellular life form.
The Evolution of Cell Organelles

The nucleus containing the genetic material, DNA, and the mitochondria, well-identified as the "powerhouse of the cell",..

Biological Cell Defense
Biological Cell Defense

Organisms employ different strategies to boost its defenses against antigens. Humans have an immune system to combat pat..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics