bifunctional

[ bahy-fuhngk-shuh-nl ]

adjective

1. having or serving two functions.
2. Chemistry. having or involving two functional groups.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bifunctional¹

First recorded in 1935–40; bi- ¹ + functional

Example Sentences

In the future, his team will build off this work to create a bifunctional antibody that will reverse both fentanyl and xylazine's toxicity simultaneously, something that naloxone cannot do.

From Science Daily

M7824, a bifunctional fusion protein, combines the immunotherapy mechanism of Merck’s approved cancer drug Bavencio with a second immune trigger known as TGF-beta trap.

From Reuters

Rousseau, G. G. & Hue, L. Mammalian 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase: a bifunctional enzyme that controls glycolysis.

From Nature

Runnels, L. W., Yue, L. & Clapham, D. E. TRP-PLIK, a bifunctional protein with kinase and ion channel activities.

From Nature

A subcomplex of human mitochondrial RNase P is a bifunctional methyltransferase—extensive moonlighting in mitochondrial tRNA biogenesis.

From Nature