Knowra Methyl group Methyl group The –CH₃ group consists of one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms. It can occur as a substituent, part of a molecule’s backbone, or a reactive intermediate.
Alkyl group : A substituent derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom. Methyl is the smallest alkyl group, formed from methane by removing one hydrogen.
Methyl radical : A highly reactive species, •CH₃, with an unpaired electron on carbon. Bond cleavage can turn a methyl group into this reactive radical.
DNA methylation : The addition of methyl groups to DNA, commonly at cytosine bases in eukaryotes. Methyl marks on DNA can alter gene regulation without changing its sequence.
Ethyl group : The –C₂H₅ substituent, consisting of two carbon atoms and five hydrogen atoms. Ethyl is the next larger alkyl group, with one more carbon than methyl.
Methane : The simplest alkane, with one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. Removing one hydrogen from methane leaves the methyl group.
Methyl cation : The positively charged carbon species CH₃⁺, with an electron-deficient carbon atom. Heterolytic bond cleavage can produce this exceptionally unstable methyl species.
Histone methylation : The addition of methyl groups to particular amino acids in histone proteins. Histone methyl marks help regulate chromatin structure and gene expression.
Methoxy group : The –OCH₃ substituent, in which a methyl group is bonded through oxygen. Methoxy resembles methyl in composition but attaches to a molecule through oxygen.
Covalent bond : A chemical bond formed when atoms share electron pairs. The carbon–hydrogen and carbon–framework bonds in methyl are covalent.
Methyl anion : The negatively charged carbon species CH₃⁻, with a lone pair on carbon. Strong bases can generate this formal methyl species, usually stabilized in compounds.
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