CARTA Glossary

A substance that blocks or reduces the activity of proteases, enzymes that break down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. Protease inhibitors occur naturally in many plants, particularly legumes and grains, where they may help protect the plant against herbivores and pathogens. When consumed, some protease inhibitors can interfere with protein digestion and nutrient absorption; cooking can substantially reduce their activity.

The complete set of proteins produced by a cell, tissue, organism, or biological system at a given time and under specific conditions. Unlike the genome, which is relatively stable, the proteome can change in response to development, environment, diet, disease, and other factors.

A molecule essential in gene coding, decoding, regulation, and expression. RNA consists of sequences of the four nucleotide bases: Adenine, Uracil, Guanine, and Cytosine. Types of RNA include messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), small nuclear RNA (snRNA), and other non-coding RNAs. Some viruses including Influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 have RNA genomes.

Proteins and glycoproteins secreted primarily by the salivary glands that perform a range of functions in the mouth, including lubricating and protecting oral tissues, initiating digestion, binding and transporting molecules, maintaining tooth mineral balance, and contributing to antimicrobial defense. Some salivary proteins also interact with dietary compounds and influence taste and the perception and processing of food.

A population whose individuals can mate with one another to produce viable and fertile offspring. This is a debated definition and the concept is problematic for extinct fossil organisms for which DNA is not available. This definition is problematic in regard to bacteria as they can exchange genetic material across widely separate taxa.

A plant storage molecule in the form of a polysaccharide. Starch is obtained chiefly from cereals, tubers, and potatoes. It is an important constituent of the human diet due to its digestibility, unlike many other polysaccharides, such as plant cellulose, pectins, and xylans (polyxylose).

A diverse group of naturally occurring plant polyphenols that can bind to proteins and certain minerals, potentially reducing their digestion or absorption. They are found in foods such as tea, coffee, legumes, nuts, fruits, and whole grains and contribute to the astringent or drying sensation of some foods. In nutrition, tannins are sometimes considered antinutritional compounds, although their effects depend on the type and amount consumed and they may also have beneficial antioxidant and other biological effects.

A chronic metabolic disorder that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose). It is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin and primarily occurs as a result of obesity and lack of exercise.

A submicroscopic infectious agent 10 million times smaller than a human that relies on a living host cell for metabolic processes and replication. Like living organisms, viruses possess genes and evolve by natural selection. Unlike living organisms, viruses lack cellular structure, do not have their own metabolism, instead relying on a living host cell for production of materials, and replication through self-assembly inside a host cell.