Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

helix-turn-helix

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.96 in modern English

Syllables: he-lix--turn-he-lix
IPA

34

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

6

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A structural motif where two alpha helices are joined by a short amino acid loop, frequently acting as a DNA binding site.

Uncountable

Etymology

From helix + turn + helix. The term got its name from its distinct physical geometry; two alpha helices separated by a short amino acid sequence connecting the helices, where one helix recognizes and binds to a specific sequence in DNA.

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

helix-turn-helices (plural)

Phrases

helix-loop-helix leucine zipper zinc finger

Frequently Paired Words

helix-loop-helix homeodomain leucine zipper zinc finger

Questions

What does helix-turn-helix mean?: A structural motif where two alpha helices are joined by a short amino acid loop, frequently acting as a DNA binding site.
Where does helix-turn-helix come from?: From helix + turn + helix. The term got its name from its distinct physical geometry; two alpha helices separated by a short amino acid sequence connecting the helices, where one helix recognizes and binds to a specific sequence in DNA.

How to pronounce helix-turn-helix

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