heterotropic

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adjective

Concerning an effect in one entity that is controlled or influenced by a separate entity, such as when one ligand influences the binding of another ligand.

Similar
heterotrope
Opposite
Scrabble 19

Meanings

adjectiveheterotropic (not comparable)
  1. not comparablechemistryConcerning an effect in one entity that is controlled or influenced by a separate entity, such as when one ligand influences the binding of another ligand.

    Some allosteric enzymes exhibit mixed homotropic and heterotropic interactions.

    2002, N. V. Bhagavan, Medical Biochemistry, →ISBN, page 111
    2 more examples

    This behavior is analogous to that of any cooperative binding protein, such as hemoglobin (18, 19 ), although in this case, cooperativity is observed between heterotropic rather than homotropic ligands.

    2000 October 27, Kenneth E. Prehoda et al., “Integration of Multiple Signals Through Cooperative Regulation of the N-WASP-Arp2/3 Complex”, in Science, volume 290, number 5492, →DOI, pages 801–806

    In heterotropic allosteric regulation, the bacterial enzymes are activated by ADP and inhibited by phosphoenolpyruvate binding at the allosteric site.

    2006, Perry A. Frey, Robert H. Ables, Adrian D. Hegeman, Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms, →ISBN, page 500
  2. not comparablemedicineConcerning a process that abnormally takes place outside of its normal system as well as within its normal system.

    Heterotropic pregnancy occurs when intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies coexist.

    2007, Jonathan S. Berek, Berek & Novak's Gynecology, →ISBN, page 629
    1 more example

    Various hereditary conditions and congenital condition give rise to heterotropic calcification something abnormal in metabolic and endocrinal functions also give rise to deposition of calcium in extraskeletal system.

    2009, Kulkarni, Textbook of Orthopaedics and Trauma, →ISBN, page 2524
  3. not comparableArising from the interaction of separate people or entities.

    As Webster informs us, it is both psychomorphic and heterotropic. I suppose that's a fancy way of saying Illyrion is many things to many men.

    2014, Samuel R. Delany, Nova, →ISBN
    2 more examples

    At the end of the twentieth century Nature is alive and well, permeating the experience of everyday life as a riotous profusion of heterotropic images, signs and discursive constructs.

    1998, Andrew Herod, Gearóid Ó Tuathail, Gerard Toal, An Unruly World?: Globalization, Governance, and Geography, →ISBN

    In contrast, heterotropic intentional mental states, intentional acts and actions cannot be performed and experienced by a single individual: heterotropic states, acts and actions necessarily refer to and depend on other individuals, i.e. they involve at least two individuals.

    2013, Anita Konzelmann Ziv, Hans Bernhard Schmid, Institutions, Emotions, and Group Agents, →ISBN, page 121

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
heterotrope
Opposite

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

heterotropic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterotropic

MLA

“heterotropic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterotropic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heterotropic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterotropic.

Source: heterotropic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.