Dimeren

Dimeren is the Dutch term for the process of forming dimers, in English commonly referred to as dimerization or dimerisation. It describes the association of two molecular units to produce a dimer, which can be a covalently bound pair or a non-covalently bound assembly. Dimers may be homodimers, composed of two identical units, or heterodimers, formed from two different units. Dimerization can be reversible, often governed by equilibrium conditions, or effectively irreversible under certain circumstances.

In chemistry, dimerization occurs through various mechanisms such as radical coupling, condensation, or photochemical reactions. The extent and rate of dimer formation depend on factors including concentration, temperature, solvent, and the presence of catalysts or promoters. In materials science and polymer chemistry, dimerization can influence the properties and stability of substances, including resins and other reactive intermediates.

In biochemistry and molecular biology, dimerization is a common mode of protein organization and regulation. Many enzymes, receptors, and transcription factors function as dimers, with dimer formation affecting activity, binding affinity, specificity, and signaling pathways. Dimer interfaces often involve specific amino acid contacts that stabilize the complex and can be targets for regulation or inhibition.

Analytical approaches to study dimeren include spectroscopic techniques (such as UV‑Vis and IR), mass spectrometry, and chromatographic separation. Structural and mechanistic insights are gained through methods like X‑ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryo-electron microscopy in appropriate systems.

See also: Dimer, Monomer, Dimerization, Protein–protein interaction.