Tetramer Explained

A tetramer (tetra-, "four" + -mer, "parts") is an oligomer formed from four monomers or subunits. The associated property is called tetramery. An example from inorganic chemistry is titanium methoxide with the empirical formula Ti(OCH₃)₄, which is tetrameric in solid state and has the molecular formula Ti₄(OCH₃)₁₆.^[1] An example from organic chemistry is kobophenol A, a substance that is formed by combining four molecules of resveratrol.^{[2] [3]}

In biochemistry, it similarly refers to a biomolecule formed of four units, that are the same (homotetramer), i.e. as in Concanavalin A or different (heterotetramer), i.e. as in hemoglobin. Hemoglobin has 4 similar sub-units while immunoglobulins have 2 very different sub-units. The different sub-units may have each their own activity, such as binding biotin in avidin tetramers, or have a common biological property, such as the allosteric binding of oxygen in hemoglobin.

See also

• Cluster chemistry; atomic and molecular clusters
• Tetrameric protein
• Tetramerium, a genus of plants belonging to the family Acanthaceae
• Tetramery (botany), having four parts in a distinct whorl of a plant structure

Notes and References

1. Wright . D. A. . Williams . D. A. . The crystal and molecular structure of titanium tetramethoxide . . 1968 . 24 . 8 . 1107–1114 . 10.1107/S0567740868003766 . free.
2. Simultaneous determination of the contents of three stilbene oligomers in Caragana sinica collected in different seasons using an improved HPLC method . Shu . Na . Zhou . Hong . Hu . Changqi . . 2006 . 29 . 4 . 608–612 . 16595888 . 10.1248/bpb.29.608 . free.
3. Identification and bioactivities of resveratrol oligomers and flavonoids from Carex folliculata seeds . Li . Liya . Henry . Geneive E. . Seeram . Navindra P. . . 2009 . 57 . 16 . 7282–7287 . 10.1021/jf901716j . 19627089.