Where does “methyltransferase” come from?
Methyltransferase is a compound of English methyl, transfer, and diastase, ultimately from Latin ferre and Ancient Greek διά, both deriving from Proto-Indo-European bʰer-.
methyltransferase (English): Any enzyme that catalyzes transmethylation
Definitions
- Any enzyme that catalyzes transmethylation
Ancestry of “methyltransferase”, step by step
methyltransferase traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English methyl
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | methyl | The univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH-, formally... |
| 2 | German | Methyl | methyl |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | μέθυ | wine |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | métʰu | intoxicating drink; mead |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | médʰu | honey; honey wine, mead |
via English transferase
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | transferase | Any of various enzymes that catalyze the transfer... |
| 2 | English | -ase | Used to form the names of enzymes |
| 3 | English | diastase | Any one of a group of enzymes which catalyse the... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς | separation |