Where does “helix-turn-helix” come from?
helix-turn-helix (English) comes from English turn, from Middle English turnen, from Old French torner, from Latin tornō, from Latin tornus, from Ancient Greek τόρνος, from Proto-Indo-European torh₂no-, from Proto-Indo-European terh₁- — to rub, turn; to drill, pierce.
helix-turn-helix (English): A structural motif where two alpha helices are joined by a short amino acid loop, frequently acting as a DNA binding site
Definitions
- A structural motif where two alpha helices are joined by a short amino acid loop, frequently acting as a DNA binding site
Ancestry of “helix-turn-helix”, step by step
helix-turn-helix traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English turn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | turn | "to make a non-linear physical movement."; "To... |
| 2 | Middle English | turnen | to turn |
| 3 | Old French | torner | to turn; to return; to go back |
| 4 | Latin | tornō | to turn |
| 5 | Latin | tornus | A turner's wheel, lathe; A potter's wheel |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | τόρνος | A tool similar to a pair of compasses used to... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | torh₂no- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | terh₁- | to rub, turn; to drill, pierce |
via English helix
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | helix | A curve on the surface of a cylinder or cone such... |
| 2 | Latin | helīx | a kind of ivy |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἕλιξ | Anything twisted, winding, or spiral; The tendril... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πτερόν | feather; wing; Any winged creature |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | péth₂r̥ | wing; feather |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | peth₂- | to spread out; to fly |