Nterminally

Nterminally refers to a position or location at the N-terminus of a molecule. The N-terminus, short for N-terminal, is the beginning of a peptide or protein chain. It is characterized by a free amino group (-NH2). In molecular biology and biochemistry, it is crucial to distinguish between the N-terminus and the C-terminus (C-terminal), which is the end of the chain with a free carboxyl group (-COOH).

When discussing modifications or additions to a peptide or protein, the term "nterminally" indicates that the alteration occurs at or near this starting end. For example, an amino acid can be added nterminally to a peptide, meaning it is attached to the existing N-terminal amino group. Similarly, a tag or label might be fused nterminally to a protein to facilitate its detection or purification.

Understanding the nterminal position is fundamental for comprehending protein structure, function, and synthesis. Protein synthesis, or translation, begins at the N-terminus and proceeds towards the C-terminus. This directional nature is reflected in the nomenclature used to describe sequences and modifications. Therefore, nterminally describes a specific location within the linear sequence of a polypeptide.