antiparallel — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. (of vectors) Parallel but in opposite directions. Describing the orientations of the two strands of DNA.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Upon interaction with ss- nucleic acid (NA) targets (deoxyribooligonucleotides (ODNs) or ribooligonucleotides), they form very stable anti-parallel and parallel duplexes [3 ], and the melting temperatures of the antiparallel duplexes are 10 to 15°C higher than those of the parallel duplexes.

2. (of vectors) Parallel but in opposite directions. Describing two beta strands comprising a protein's secondary structure that are aligned and hydrogen bonded but where the vectors describing the amino- and carboxy-terminal ends of each strand are oriented 180° relative to one another.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

Noun

1. A line that forms equal angles with two other lines, but in opposite directions.

Adjective

1. (especially of vectors) parallel but oppositely directed

   Examples

   antiparallel vectors