Homomer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A protein or polymeric molecule composed of two or more identical subunits bound together
2. A molecular structure built from multiple copies of the same monomeric component linked in a complex
3. An assembly of identical molecular units joined to form a single functional protein or polymer

Etymology: "Homomer" is a chemistry term built from two Greek elements. "Homo-" comes from Greek "homos," meaning "same" or "alike," and "-mer" comes from Greek "meros," meaning "part." Put together, a homomer is something made of identical parts. In chemistry, the term describes a protein or other molecular complex assembled from several copies of the same subunit, as opposed to a heteromer, which combines different kinds. The contrast between the two is what gives the pair their usefulness: a protein built from four identical chains and one built from four different chains need different descriptions, and the prefix alone signals which is which.