| bacterial capsules | An envelope of loose gel surrounding a bacterial cell which is associated with the virulence of pathogenic bacteria. Some capsules have a well-defined border, whereas others form a slime layer that trails off into the medium. most capsules consist of relatively simple polysaccharides but there are some bacteria whose capsules are made of polypeptides. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| brood capsules | Small hollow projections from the lining membrane of a hydatid cyst from which the scoleces arise. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capsules | Hard or soft, soluble containers of a suitable substance, for enclosing a dose of medicine, usually for oral administration. (12 Dec 1998) |
| lecithin | <protein> Phospholipids of egg yolk (usually hen's eggs). A mixture of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, but usually refers to phosphatidylcholine. (18 Nov 1997) |
| lecithin acyltransferase | <enzyme> An enzyme that reversibly transfers an acyl residue from a lecithin to cholesterol, forming a 1-acylglycerophosphocholine (a lysolecithin) and a cholesterol ester; a deficiency of this enzyme leads to an accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in plasma resulting in anaemia, proteinuria, renal failure, and corneal opacities; LCAT is also low in individuals with fish-eye disease. Synonym: lecithin acyltransferase. Acronym: LCAT (05 Mar 2000) |
| lecithin acyltransferase deficiency | A disease characterised by deficiency or low levels of plasma lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase. Clinical manifestations include corneal opacity, anaemia, and proteinuria. (12 Dec 1998) |
| lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase | <enzyme> An enzyme that reversibly transfers an acyl residue from a lecithin to cholesterol, forming a 1-acylglycerophosphocholine (a lysolecithin) and a cholesterol ester; a deficiency of this enzyme leads to an accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in plasma resulting in anaemia, proteinuria, renal failure, and corneal opacities; LCAT is also low in individuals with fish-eye disease. Synonym: lecithin acyltransferase. Acronym: LCAT (05 Mar 2000) |
| lecithin-cholesterol transferase | A plasma enzyme that catalyses the uptake of cholesterol esters by intermediate-density lipoproteins formed by high density lipoproteins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lecithin-retinol acyltransferase | <enzyme> Transfers 1-acyl moiety from lecithin to retinol-cellular retinol-binding protein, type II, to produce retinyl esters; does not use CoA Registry number: EC 2.3.1.- (26 Jun 1999) |
| lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio | A ratio used to determine foetal pulmonary maturity, found by testing the amniotic fluid; when the lungs are mature, lecithin exceeds sphingomyelin by 2 to 1. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lysolecithin-lecithin acyltransferase | <enzyme> An enzyme that catalyses the reversible reaction of lysolecithin and another phospholipid (e.g., phosphatidylethanolamine) to form lecithin and lysophosphatidylethanolamine; a major route in the restructuring of lecithin. (05 Mar 2000) |