| beta-hypophamine | <protein> A peptide hormone released from the posterior pituitary lobe but synthesised in the hypothalamus. There are 2 forms, differing only in the amino acid at position 8: arginine vasopressin is widespread, while lysine vasopressin is found in pigs. Has antidiuretic and vasopressor actions. Used in the treatment of diabetes insipidus. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| beta interferon | A protein liberated by fibroblasts in response to a viral infection. (27 Sep 1997) |
| beta-ketoacyl-ACP reductase | A part of the fatty acid synthase complex; an enzyme reversibly reacting 3-oxoacyl-ACP with NADPH to form d-3-hydroxyacyl-ACP and NADP+. Synonym: beta-ketoacyl-ACP reductase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase | <enzyme> An enzyme condensing malonyl-ACP and acyl-cys-protein to 3-oxoacyl-ACP + cys-protein + CO2, and similar reactions, as steps in fatty acid synthesis; cys-protein is also a part of the fatty acid synthase complex. Synonym: acyl-malonyl-ACP synthase, beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-ketoadipyl-coenzyme A thiolase | <enzyme> Last enzyme in the beta-ketoadipate pathway in pseudomonas putida; genbank l33795 Registry number: EC 2.3.1.- Synonym: pcaf gene product, beta-ketoadipyl-CoA thiolase (26 Jun 1999) |
| beta-ketohydrogenase | Beta-Hydroxyacyl dehydrogenase;enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of an l-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA to a 3-ketoacyl-CoA with reduction of NAD+; one of the enzymes of the b oxidation of fatty acids. Synonym: beta-ketohydrogenase, beta-ketoreductase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-ketoreductase | Beta-Hydroxyacyl dehydrogenase;enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of an l-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA to a 3-ketoacyl-CoA with reduction of NAD+; one of the enzymes of the b oxidation of fatty acids. Synonym: beta-ketohydrogenase, beta-ketoreductase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-ketothiolase | <enzyme> An enzyme catalyzing the thioclastic cleavage by coenzyme A of beta-ketoacyl-CoA, forming an acyl-CoA with a carbon chain shorter by two atoms, the missing two atoms appearing as acetyl-CoA. A step in fatty acid degradation. See: acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase. Synonym: 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, beta-ketothiolase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-lactam | <pharmacology> A class of broad spectrum antibiotics that are structurally and pharmacologically related to the penicillins and cephalosporins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-lactamase | <enzyme> An enzyme produced by some bacteria, which causes the breakdown of the active form of some penicillin antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. It causes the hydrolysis of a beta-lactam (as penicillin to penicilloic acid); found in most strains of staphylococcus bacteria that are naturally resistant to penicillin. Synonym: cephalosporinase, penicillinase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-lactamase inhibitor | <pharmacology> Drugs such as clavulanic acid, which are used to inhibit bacterial beta-lactamases; often used with a penicillin or cephalosporin to overcome drug resistance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-lactamases | <enzyme> Enzymes found in many bacteria which catalyze the hydrolysis of the amide bond in the beta-lactam ring. Well known antibiotics destroyed by these enzymes are penicillins and cephalosporins. Chemical name: beta-Lactamhydrolase Registry number: EC 3.5.2.6 (12 Dec 1998) |
| beta-lactam resistance | Nonsusceptibility of an organism to the action of the beta-lactam antibiotics. (12 Dec 1998) |
| beta limit | <radiobiology> if the plasma pressure in a tokamak becomes too high, the so-called ballooning modes become unstable and lead to a loss of confinement (sometimes catastrophic, sometimes not). The exact value at which this occurs depends strongly on the magnetic field B, the plasma minor radius a, and the toroidal plasma current I, such that maximum value of the normalised beta, beta_N=betaBa/I, is around 4% (with B in Teslas, a in metres, and I in Mega-amperes). The exact value depends on details of the plasma shape, the plasma profiles, and the safety factor. Synonym: troyon limit. (09 Oct 1997) |
| beta-mercaptoethanol | HO-CH2-CH2-SH;a reagent used to reduce disulfide bonds, particularly in proteins, and to prevent their formation. Synonym: beta-mercaptoethanol. (05 Mar 2000) |