adjective
- relating to the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule, especially the different shapes a molecule can adopt by rotation around single bonds
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- The protein's conformational change allows it to bind to other molecules.
- Conformational isomers have the same molecular formula but different three-dimensional structures.
- Heat can cause a conformational shift in the polymer chain.
- The drug works by inducing a conformational change in the target enzyme.
- Scientists studied the conformational dynamics of the DNA molecule using X-ray crystallography.