protamine

P3R1O1T1A1M3I1N1E1
UK/ˈpɹəʊ.tə.miːn/US/ˈpɹoʊ.təˌmin/

noun

Any of various strongly basic proteins of relatively low molecular weight that are rich in arginine and are found associated especially with DNA in place of histone in the sperm cells of various animals (such as fish).

OriginEnglish amine ← Latin ammoniacus ← Ancient Greek Ᾰ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn) →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

nounprotamine (plural protamines)

plural protamines

  1. biochemistryAny of various strongly basic proteins of relatively low molecular weight that are rich in arginine and are found associated especially with DNA in place of histone in the sperm cells of various animals (such as fish).

Origin

  1. Englishprot-
  2. Egyptianjmn
  3. Ancient GreekᾸ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn)
  4. LatinAmmōn
  5. Latinammoniacus
  6. Englishammonia
  7. Englishamine
  8. Englishprotamine

From prot- (“original”) + -amine.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Italian protammina
  • protamminaTranslations
Portuguese protamina
  • protaminaTranslations
Spanish protamina
  • protaminaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

protamine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protamine

MLA

“protamine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protamine. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “protamine,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protamine.

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